Massive Explosion In Mexican Oil Plant Kills 3, Injuries Over 100
KABUL: (MEP) A massive explosion at an oil facility in south-eastern Mexican state of Veracruz has killed at least three people and injured 136 others, officials said on Wednesday.
The blast at the state oil company Petroleos Mexicanos, also known as Pemex, was felt as far as 6 miles away, Veracruz state Gov. Javier Duarte told Radio Formula. He added that more than 2,000 people were evacuated from the area near the industrial port city of Coatzacoalcos as a precaution.
Luis Felipe Puente, head of federal emergency services, told Reuters that three people had died in the blast. Pemex confirmed that three of its workers had died, and said another 136 were injured, of which 88 were still in the hospital.
The cause of the explosion was not immediately known.
The fire was under control by early evening, Pemex said. Residents were told to stay indoors because of the possible toxic nature of the smoke from the blast, but Pemex said the smoke dissipated quickly, lessening any possible toxic effects.
The plant, which sits on the southern coast of the Gulf of Mexico, produces vinyl chloride, a hazardous industrial chemical that is used to make PVC pipes and for other purposes.
Pemex said the explosion happened at 3:15 p.m. at the Clorados 3 plant of Petroquimica Mexicana de Vinilo. It said the plant is operated by another company, Mexichem, in partnership with Pemex.
The incident occurred just weeks after three workers were killed and seven injured when a fire broke out on a Pemex oil-processing platform in the Gulf of Mexico.
Meanwhile, President Enrique Pena Nieto said on Twitter that the government would help the “affected workers and neighbors of the area”.
