A view of the massive fire at the fuel depot, sparked overnight by a lightning strike in Matanzas in western Cuba. Photo: AFP

Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, president of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) and Vu Hai Ha, member of the Party Central Committee, chairman of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Committee and president of the Vietnam - Cuba Friendship Association have sent messages of sympathy to Fernando Gonzalez Llort, president of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) and Yolanda Ferrer Gomez, president of the Cuba - Vietnam Friendship Association over severe losses caused by a massive blaze in an oil storage facility in Cuba’s province of Matanzas.

The two leaders affirmed that the Vietnamese people will always stand shoulder to shoulder, united with Cubans in the difficulties they are going through.

At the same time, they firmly believe that under the leadership of the Communist Party of Cuba, the consensus and solidarity of the people and the broad support of the international community, the Cuban people will quickly overcome the damage as well as all difficulties and challenges.

The club of Vietnamese alumni once studied in Cuba under the Vietnam - Cuba Friendship Association also visited the Cuban Embassy in Hanoi to extend their sympathy to Ambassador Orlando Nicolas Hernandez Guillien and the current difficulties the Cuban people are facing.

The Vietnam - Cuba Friendship Association and the Vietnamese alumni club will have practical activities to support and help the Cuban people overcome current difficulties.

Members of the club of Vietnamese alumni once studied in Cuba visited the Cuban Embassy in Hanoi and shared with the Ambassador Orlando Hernandez Guillen, about the damages caused by the devastating fire and the obstacles faced by the Cuban people. Source: VNT

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on August 7 also cabled messages of sympathy to First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee and President Miguel Díaz-Canel.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue also extended their sympathy to Cuban PM Manuel Marrero Cruz and President of the National Assembly of People's Power Esteban Lazo Hernandez, respectively, over the tragic incident.

The same day, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son sent a similar message to his Cuban counterpart Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla.

A major fire broke out when a lightning strike at an oil storage tank at the supertanker base in the city of Mantanzas.

The fire broke out on Friday night from one fuel tank to a second one on Saturday. There are eight tanks in total.

According to the official Cuban embassy's statement, one death reported till date, 17 firefighters missing while over 121 injured injured of whom 36 are still hospitalized.

Among the injured are the Cuban Minister of Energy and Mines, representatives of the local authorities, firefighters and members of the press who were monitoring the site after the explosion of the first tank. There has been five explosions till now.

The fire smoke was so massive that it could be seen billowing towards Havana, capital of Cuba, which is 65 miles away from the supertanker base.

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