Cuban Explosion at Arms Depot Kills 13 Soldiers, Cause Under Investigation

The Cuban government confirmed On January 15, that 13 soldiers were killed following an explosion at an arms depot in Holguin province on January 7. The Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (MINFAR) stated in Granma that the victims included four officers, two of whom were majors, and nine soldiers. The explosion occurred near Melones, around 730 km east of Havana, and led to the evacuation of more than 4,000 local residents.

Social media images and videos showed a large column of smoke rising from the site, while emergency responders worked to control the fire. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation, though there are unconfirmed reports suggesting it occurred during the sorting of old ammunition. MINFAR has also proposed that the explosion may have been triggered by a fire at the arsenal.