Cuba begins tribute to those who died in fire (+Photo)

Matanzas, Cuba, Aug 19 (Prensa Latina) The colleagues of the 16 people who died in the fire at the supertanker base in this city lead the funeral honors that are being held today at the museum of the Matanzas Firefighters.

Relatives and inhabitants of the western city arrived at the institution with flowers, photographs and tokens of respect for those who lost their lives in the disaster, unprecedented on the island.

Floral wreaths were sent from the leader of the Cuban Revolution, Raul Castro, President Miguel Diaz-Canel, the National Assembly of People’s Power and on behalf of the Cuban people.

The funeral honors pay tribute to the 16 people who died in the fire, which was caused by a lightning strike on August 5 and was extinguished five days later with the participation of Cuban, Mexican and Venezuelan forces and technology.

According to the official program, in addition to the popular tribute, a guard of honor and a remembrance ceremony will be held in the afternoon.

The accident caused 132 injuries, 18 of which are still hospitalized, and considerable damage to the infrastructure of the supertanker base and surrounding communities.

Despite the use of the most advanced techniques, Cuba was unable to identify the remains of 14 of the victims due to the high temperatures recorded at the site, estimated at more than 1,000 degrees Celsius.

Cuba declared official mourning this Thursday and Friday in tribute to the victims of the tragedy.