A blaze that broke out on Sunday at a fuel tank belonging to the Azutecnia Company in Manzanillo, Granma province, was finally extinguished after hours of intense firefighting efforts. This was confirmed by the state-run media outlet CNC TV Granma on their social media platforms.
The fire ignited when a fuel container was opened at the UEB Workshops and Clearing unit, part of Azutecnia—also known as T22—and affiliated with the AZCUBA Sugar Group, which provides technical support to the sugar industry in Granma.
Local sources suggested that a fuel pump within the workshop might be linked to the cause of the blaze, although this theory has not received official confirmation.
As firefighting efforts progressed, the number of victims increased. Initial reports mentioned two individuals with minor burns, but the number eventually rose to five.
The individual in the most critical condition is Hermes Soria Romero, 47, who is suffering with 31% burns and remains in critical condition. Luis Roberto Tamayo Cedeño, 36, is in serious condition with 16% burns. Meanwhile, Pedro Manuel Depara Ramos, 22, Blas Sosa Vázquez, 66, and Ernesto Espinosa Leyva, 59, have been discharged but will continue to receive medical follow-up.
All five injured were transported to Celia Sánchez Manduley Provincial Hospital in Manzanillo.
Yudelkis Ortiz Barceló, the first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba in Granma, visited the site along with top political and government officials from the province and municipality, including Reynier Beltrán Sánchez, María Isabel Sánchez, and Dunier Tamayo Casanova.
Ortiz Barceló expressed a special thanks to the young firefighters from the Manzanillo Command and the Airport, as well as the Ministry of the Interior, the Waterworks, and local well owners who quickly provided water to help combat the flames.
Recurring Fuel-Related Incidents in Cuba
This incident is part of a series of accidents related to fuel handling in Cuba throughout 2026. At the end of September, the Fire Department warned about the hazards of storing fuel in IBC plastic containers, a common practice among private businesses amid the nation's energy crisis.
Experts had pointed out violations such as the lack of grounding systems, inadequate containment walls, and the joint storage of different fuels. In August 2026, one specialist warned that some operators try to store up to 30,000 liters in plastic tanks, a volume for which installing adequate containment is practically impossible.
The most severe recent memory of such incidents is the fire at the Matanzas Supertanker Base in August 2022, which resulted in 17 deaths and over 132 injuries, marking one of Cuba's largest industrial disasters in decades.
"Unity overcame what seemed endless. That must remain our main weapon to defend ourselves against everything that harms us," wrote Ortiz Barceló upon confirming the fire's extinguishment.
Understanding the Fire Incident in Manzanillo
What caused the fire at Azutecnia in Manzanillo?
The fire broke out when a fuel container was opened at the UEB Workshops and Clearing unit. Local sources speculate a fuel pump might have been involved, but this has not been officially confirmed.
How many people were injured in the incident?
Five individuals sustained injuries, with varying degrees of severity, due to the fire at the Azutecnia facility.
Who is in charge of the investigation into the fire?
While no official statement has been made regarding the investigation, authorities from Granma province and the Communist Party are involved in addressing the aftermath.