At 12:23 AM of October 23, 2009, everything shook. A huge blast when a fuel tank with hundreds of thousands of gallons of fuel exploded, creating havoc within the reservoir field that serves as holding reserve for 10% of the island’s demand.
The fire that ensued has been burning ever since, and there is only hope that the fuel runs out for the fire to stop. In the meantime, we will have to deal with this.
The economic consequences of this event are still not clear. Gasoline reserves are enough without the damaged ones for at least 25 days. And we are awaiting a 16 million gallon shipment in 15 days. But then we need somewhere to hold the 16 million.
Also, there is the issue about the towering wall of black smoke that has every single kind of contaminant. The environmental effects will be horrendous, and we are hoping that it doesn’t rain soon, because the contaminated soot will drop faster on us if it does.
People with respiratory ailment should stay at home while this matter is contained and resolved in some way or another.
We will keep posting about further consequences of this tragic disaster.
// Charles
