17 missing, 67 injured in Cuba's fuel tank explosion

A fuel storage tank at a supertanker port near the port of Matanzas in Cuba exploded Saturday morning following a blaze, which has left at least 17 people missing and 67 injured, according to the Cuban presidency, reported Xinhua.

The tank was engulfed in huge fire after it was struck by lightning at 7:00 p.m. (1500 GMT) on Friday, which caused the explosion, local media reported.

The fire is still spreading on Saturday morning. Local residents have already been evacuated from the area.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel visited the scene 100 km east of Havana, the country's capital.

Cuba is suffering from lack of electricity due to fuel shortages. The explosion at the supertanker port could make the country's power supply further deteriorated.