Havana: The 13 soldiers who had been missing following an explosion at a warehouse storing military equipment in Cuba on Jan. 8 have been confirmed dead, the country's president said on Thursday. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel stated that the explosion occurred in a warehouse located in the Melones region of Holguin province, resulting in the loss of 13 soldiers.

According to Anadolu Agency, Diaz-Canel expressed profound sadness over the deaths of officers, non-commissioned officers, and soldiers, extending heartfelt condolences to their families and friends. The Revolutionary Armed Forces Ministry (Minfar) noted that despite intensive efforts, the area of the accident could not be accessed immediately after the explosion.

A statement from Minfar extended condolences to the families of the soldiers and emphasized that the incident would be thoroughly investigated. State television reported that the probable cause of the explosion is linked to an electrical malfunction caused by a short circuit in the facility's wiring. Initially, Minfar had reported that military equipment had exploded in the warehouse for reasons yet to be determined.