13 Cuban soldiers died in an explosion in an ammunition depot, the government announced

The Cuban government said Wednesday that 13 soldiers were killed after an explosion a week earlier at an arms depot in the east of the country.

The Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba announced that statement On Wednesday that “it was officially declared that 13 comrades died”.

The explosion, which the ministry said was likely caused by a short circuit and power outage, 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 difficult terrain, toxic gases and severe structural damage.

“It deeply hurts to confirm the death of the officers, noncommissioned officers and soldiers who heroically faced the accident in the structure that stored war material from the military region of Holguín,” Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez said in statement on social networks. “They died heroically and as heroes they deserve our deepest respect and companionship with their loved ones in the pain of loss.”

The government appointed all 13 soldiers of the ua posting on social networks Wednesday.

Reuters news agency initially declared 13 soldiers missing reportedand officials previously said the explosion was caused by a fire at the construction site.