Lightning strikes a space of oil tanks in Cuba

Lightning strikes a space of oil tanks in Cuba.

A fire caused by a lightning strike at an oil storage facility broke out of control on Saturday in the city of Matanzas.

Four explosions and flames injured about 80 people and left 17 firefighters missing, Cuban authorities said.

Firefighters and other specialists were still trying to put out the fire at the Matanzas Supertanker Base, where the fire started during a storm Friday night, the Ministry of Energy and Mines said.

The government later said it had sought help from international experts in “friendly countries” with experience in the oil sector.

Lightning struck one tanker, causing a fire and the fire later spread to a second.

As military helicopters flew overhead dropping water on the flames, thick plumes of black smoke billowed from the facility and spread west more than 100 kilometers (62 miles) toward Havana.