The Cuban government announces the killing of 13 soldiers after an explosion in an ammunition depot

The Cuban government announced on Wednesday that 13 soldiers were killed after an explosion occurred a week ago at a weapons depot in the east of the country.

The Ministry of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces said in statement On Wednesday, “the death of the 13 comrades was officially announced.”

The explosion, which the ministry said was likely caused by a short circuit and power outages, occurred on Tuesday last week in Melones, about 450 miles east of the capital, Havana. This led to the evacuation of more than 1,200 residents of the area.

Cuban military officials said access to the site remains impossible due to complex terrain, toxic gases and extensive structural damage.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermudez said in a statement: “It is extremely painful to confirm the death of the officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers who heroically confronted the incident in a building that stored war materials from the Holguin Military District.” Statement on social media. “They died heroically, and as heroes they deserve our deepest tributes and companionship to their loved ones suffering the pain of loss.”

The government named all 13 soldiers in A Social media sharing Wednesday.

Reuters initially announced that the thirteen soldiers were missing I mentionedOfficials had previously said that the explosion was caused by a fire at a construction site.