A powerful explosion followed by a massive fire erupted this evening at the T-22 industrial workshop, part of the Azutecnia company linked to Cuba's sugar industry, in the city of Manzanillo, located in Granma province.
The incident initially resulted in two individuals being injured. These individuals were transported to the Celia Sánchez Manduley Provincial Hospital, the primary healthcare facility in Manzanillo, as confirmed on Facebook by the state media reporter Baldo Alexy Blanco González. He also noted the presence of top political and governmental authorities from Granma and the municipality at the site of the disaster.
Images shared on social media depicted towering flames that lit up the night sky, a thick column of black smoke, and emergency vehicles surrounding the facility.
An extensive team of firefighters was dispatched to extinguish the blaze and prevent its spread to other parts of the complex, according to independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada's report on his page, Súbelo Mayeta.
Local sources suggested that a fuel pump located within the facility might have played a role in the fire's origin. However, by the time of the initial reports, this information had not been confirmed nor the exact cause of the explosion determined.
Understanding the T-22 Facility
The T-22 is a facility historically focused on the repair and refurbishment of equipment and machinery for the sugar industry in Granma, a sector currently facing a severe structural crisis characterized by outdated machinery, fuel shortages, and a lack of investment.
Industrial fires have been occurring with alarming frequency in Cuba in recent years. In September 2026, six workers were injured during gas repair operations at CUPET in Havana. In October 2025, firefighters managed to extinguish a fire at a former distillery in Guantánamo that impacted a fuel depot belonging to the sugar sector.
The news initially surfaced as "developing," with the causes of the Manzanillo incident remaining officially unconfirmed at the time of the first reports.
Inquiries About the Manzanillo Explosion
What caused the explosion in Manzanillo?
The exact cause of the explosion has not been confirmed, but local sources suggest a fuel pump within the facility may have been involved.
How many people were injured in the explosion?
Preliminary reports indicate that two individuals were injured in the explosion.
What is the significance of the T-22 facility?
The T-22 facility is important for the repair and recovery of machinery within the sugar industry in Granma, a sector that is currently experiencing significant challenges.