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Cuban forensic authorities reported that they found the remains of 14 people who disappeared in the fire, but that they are so charred that they cannot be identified through DNA tests. The Government declared two days of national mourning to commemorate the lives lost.
14 people are still missing in the Matanzas fire in Cuba and that status is not expected to change. The island’s forensic authorities reported this August 18 that it is “impossible to absolutely identify” the remains found at the accident site.
The person in charge of giving the bad news, previously communicated to the relatives and close friends of the disappeared, whose identity has not been revealed, was Jorge González Pérez, president of the Cuban Society of Legal Medicine. The official assured that 754 bone fragments were found in “14 different groups” that correspond to the 14 disappeared.
However, due to the level of charring of the remains, a DNA test cannot be performed to identify them. In fact, the bodies were exposed to temperatures between 1,000 and 2,000 degrees Celsius; in crematoria, they burn at around 800 degrees.
González assured that Cuba has “all the technology for any type of identification” but not enough for an accident “of these characteristics.”
The forensic experts sought external advice from the International Red Cross and the Ibero-American Network of Forensic Sciences, among others, with the same conclusion.
“The experts agree with us that, in the conditions of the incident, which we have also described and sent photographic material for its assessment, it is impossible to apply any forensic biology technique that can be identified in this case,” González explained.
The balance of the fire in the Matanzas fuel depots that began on August 5, the largest in the history of Cuba, ended with 16 dead, 14 of them missing, and 132 injured. Of them, 17 remain hospitalized.
Flags at half-staff throughout the island
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel reported through the Twitter account of the Presidency that the country will honor the deceased and disappeared with two days of mourning.
“As a tribute to those who fell in the line of duty during the fire at the Matanzas supertanker base, the President of the Republic of Cuba decreed official mourning, from 6:00 a.m. on August 18 until 12:00 p.m. night of August 19,” reported the Government.
As a tribute to those who fell in the line of duty during the fire at the supertanker base in Matanzas, the President of the Republic of #Cuba decreed Official Duel, from 6:00 a.m. on August 18 until 12:00 p.m. on August 19. ?#CubaHonor
— Cuba Presidency ?? (@PresidenciaCuba) August 18, 2022
In addition, next Friday, August 19, the funerals will be held. “During the day, the population will be able to express their feelings of pain and solidarity in the face of such sensitive loss of human life,” he said.
Flags on public buildings must fly half-staff during days of mourning to commemorate the victims of the accident.
The biggest fire in the history of Cuba
Nine days of flames, and especially the first five, will remain in the history of Cuba. On August 5, lightning struck the giant fuel tanks in Matanzas and set one of them on fire.
The flames caused large explosions and flares of tens of meters. The huge column of smoke reached Havana, the Cuban capital, which is 104 kilometers from the place.
Some 4,000 surrounding residents had to be evacuated while the blaze was brought under control. The flames did not die down until August 11 and the fire was not declared extinct until August 13.
One of the deceased was a firefighter who worked in the area of the fire.
In addition to the emotional blow of this tragedy, the economic impact is expected to be felt: Matanzas’ supertankers contain much of the oil that Cuba uses to generate energy for its population.
With EFE and local media
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