A Mexican gas plant explosion kills up to 30 people

The death toll rises following a blast at a gas plant in Mexico on Tuesday...

15:36 20 September 2012

An explosion in a gas facility in northern Mexico is believed to have killed 29 people, with as many as 46 being injured and others were said to have been missing following the blast earlier this week.

 

The company Pemex, who deal in oil, own the plant, which is based near Reynosa in the state of Tamaulipas, where the blast happened on Tuesday morning. This then led to a fire which was believed to have been quickly contained by those at the scene

 

The Mexican President, Felipe Calderon, has been reportedly expressed how proud he was of emergency workers on the gas site as they reacted quickly to the blaze.

 

An official investigation into the event has been launched, although a Pemex official has said that the reason behind the incident could be related to a build-up of gas. Also, according to the BBC, one spokesman for the company confirmed that maintenance work had been carried out previously to the explosion.

 

The CEO of Pemex, Juan Jose Suarez Coppel, has supported the investigation according to Fox News. And other reports say Mr. Coppel regards the whole situation as being somewhat a strange accident, and that there is no evidence that points to suspicious activity concerning the onset of the explosion.

 

A statement issued by the company earlier said they recognized four of the victim’s bodies and that around 25 of those who died were contractors.

 

According to a report by Fox News it is thought six people who were injured during the accident are receiving medical treated at a regional hospital in the area.

 

So far the reason for the tragedy is not conclusive, and it is understood that this is the company’s last worst incident was approximately five years ago.