The Health Directorate in Holguín has stated that blood donations are not necessary after a fire broke out at an Army ammunition depot in the Melones area, causing multiple explosions and leaving 13 individuals unaccounted for. The department shared a statement on Facebook from Dr. Yudisney Pérez Viamonte, the Health Director of Rafael Freyre municipality, who noted that residents of Melones, as well as those from Sao Redondo and Sao Nuevo, were evacuated.
According to Pérez Viamonte, none of the evacuees require emergency medical treatment at this time. "After assessment by the medical team and psychologists, there are no patients in need of a blood transfusion, and blood donations are not necessary for the incident in Melones," he emphasized.
In the wake of the incident's scale, social media saw a flurry of posts from purported medical professionals calling for large-scale blood donations. However, neither official nor unofficial sources have reported any injuries; the government has only confirmed the 13 missing individuals, whom many believe to be deceased.
Manuel Rojas, director of the Mario Muñoz municipal polyclinic, confirmed that no patients with injuries from the Melones incident have been received. "Currently, there are no injured individuals at our polyclinic requiring mass blood donations due to the Melones event," he stated in a social media post.
Residents of Melones experienced terror and distress on Tuesday as explosions rang out from the fire at the ammunition storage facility. Videos shared online capture the fear and confusion among locals as the blasts echoed and the cause remained unknown. People rushed from their homes, calling to one another in panic.
"Calm down, woman, calm down!" a man urged his wife as she hurried down the road, several meters ahead. "Oh, I can't," she replied, her voice choked with anxiety.
Other footage depicts a thick column of smoke and intense flames in the distance, behind the houses. Initially, many chose to stay inside, but soon realized escaping was the safest option. "Oh my God! Let's all go, let's get out of here!" a woman shouted in alarm.
The posts reveal the extensive damage caused by the explosion at the military materials warehouse. The incident was triggered by a fire during the sorting of aging munitions.
FAQs about the Holguín Military Unit Fire
Why are blood donations not required after the Holguín fire?
Health authorities have confirmed that none of the evacuated individuals from the Holguín fire require emergency medical treatment or blood transfusions.
What caused the explosions in the Melones area?
The explosions were caused by a fire at an Army ammunition depot, which occurred while aging munitions were being sorted.