At least three people were killed and other 136 injured after a large explosion hit an oil plant in the south-east Mexican state of Veracruz.
The facility is owned by Mexico’s state oil company, Pemex, in the port city of Coatzacoalcos.
Hundreds of people have been evacuated and schools closed. Footage showed a large fire and vast plumes of smoke.
The cause of the explosion is unclear. Several blasts have been reported at Pemex facilities in recent years.
The latest incident occurred at around 15:15 local time, Pemex said in a statement. Veracruz state Governor Javier Duarte told a radio station the blast was felt 6 miles away.
Photo Reuters
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.
According to Pemex, of the 136 people injured, 88 remain in hospital, 13 of whom are in a serious condition.
Video posted on social media purporting to show a local hospital showed scenes of chaos and patients suffering heavy blood loss.
Pemex said the part of the factory hit by the explosion was managed by a sister company, Mexichem.
Associated Press reported that the plant produces vinyl chloride, a dangerous chemical used to make PVC pipes and packaging materials.
Exports of oil from the plant, one of the largest terminals for oil distribution in Mexico, would not be affected, the company added.
Pemex’s own headquarters in Mexico City was hit by a large gas blast in January 2013, killing 37 people.
A 6.3- magnitude earthquake has hit eastern Mexico, with no immediate reports of damage or injury.
A 6.3- magnitude earthquake has hit eastern Mexico, with no immediate reports of damage or injury
According to the US Geological Survey, the quake was centered in the Gulf coast state of Veracruz, about 260 miles east-southeast of Mexico City. The epicenter was relatively deep, 59 miles below the surface.
Local news media in Veracruz reported the 5:46 AM quake was felt strongly there, and it rocked buildings at least as far away as Mexico City.
Hurricane Ingrid, the second major storm of the hurricane season, has been steadily gathering strength in the Gulf of Mexico.
Most of people who have been evacuated are staying in official shelters while the remainder has sought refuge with friends and families.
In particular, the southern state of Chiapas and the eastern state of Veracruz have been affected.
Hurricane Ingrid, the second major storm of the hurricane season, has been steadily gathering strength in the Gulf of Mexico
Officials say that two of Mexico’s three major oil-exporting ports are closed, although most of the country’s Gulf Coast ports including Veracruz remained open on Saturday as the storm approached.
Ingrid is expected to deposit between 10in and 25in of rain over a large part of eastern Mexico, which will cause rivers to overflow and create flash floods and mudslides.
The hurricane could also cause a storm surge that would raise waters by 2ft-4ft above normal tide levels near where it makes landfall.
Earlier this week, 13 people were killed in Veracruz when their homes were buried under a landslide caused by heavy rains.
On the other side of the country, it is a similar story in the Pacific states of Oaxaca, Guerrero and Chihuahua to the north.
They have been hit by Tropical Storm Manuel and an estimated 23in of rain is expected to be dumped in the region in just three days, almost twice the monthly rainfall.
The authorities fear that such massive amounts could cause further flash flooding and mudslides over what is traditionally a weekend of celebration for Mexico’s Independence Day.
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