Moment of fatal pipeline explosion in central #Mexico
The Mexican government said that gasoline shortages in Tlahuelilpan, Hidalgo State, may have led residents to illegally tap the pipeline. Video reported to have been recorded by the Mexican army shows streams of people siphoning gas from the tapped line before the explosion.
This video is from before the explosion. Soldiers looking on as villagers fill up on gasoline from the illegally tapped pipeline. National media are saying the community had suffered shortages.
Video from the Mexican army.
#Tlahuelilpan
#explosion
CNBC reported that President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who was sworn into office in December of 2018, recently “launched an offensive against fuel theft gangs that drilled dangerous, illegal taps into pipelines an astounding 12,581 times in the first 10 months of 2018, an average of about 42 per day.”
As can be seen in video, residents arrive and appropriate fuel using containers from milk jugs to as was reported, even a small boat.
It’s reported that gas theft occurs with such regularity that “it was only a matter of time before a fire occurred,” albeit of this magnitude likely not expected.
It’s now reported that at least 66 people are dead and as many as 100 or more suffering from serious burns.
BREAKING: Pipeline explodes in central Mexico, causing a large number of casualties t.co/aae2DWY78o
Pipeline owner Petróleos Mexicanos (Mexican Petroleum) known as Pemex, says “The explosion in Tlahuelilpan, Hidalgo was derived from the manipulation of a clandestine takeover for fuel theft in the Tuxpan-Tula pipeline. This accident does not affect the supply of gasoline in Mexico City.”
La explosión en Tlahuelilpan, Hidalgo se derivó de la manipulación de una toma clandestina para robo de combustible en el ducto Tuxpan-Tula. Este accidente no afecta el suministro de gasolinas en la Ciudad de México.
The Mexican government held a press conference early Saturday morning at the National Palace “to inform the relatives of the victims, the people and the media, details related to the tragedy in Tlahuelilpan.”
#ConferenciaPresidente sobre la tragedia ocurrida en #Tlahuelilpan, Hidalgo
Hidalgo state governor Omar Fayed tweeted that unless illegal tapping of fuel pipelines stops, explosions and tragedies like occurred at Tlahuelilpan will continue.
“I call on the entire population not to be accomplices in the theft of fuel. This, besides being unlawful, puts your life and that of the families at risk. What happened today in Tlahuelilpan should not be repeated.”
Hago un llamado a toda la población a no ser cómplices en el robo de combustible. Esto además de ser ilícito, pone en riesgo tu vida y la de las familias. Lo ocurrido hoy en Tlahuelilpan no debe repetirse.
The images that follow may be disturbing for many and depict forensic recovery efforts after the explosion.
TLAHUELILPAN, MEXICO – JANUARY 19: (EDITORS NOTE: Image depicts graphic content) A forensic doctor works with burned bodies after an explosion in a pipeline belonging to Mexican oil company PEMEX on January 19, 2019 in Tlahuelilpan, Mexico. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
TLAHUELILPAN, MEXICO explosion in a pipeline belonging to Mexican oil company PEMEX. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
TLAHUELILPAN, MEXICO A burnt body is observed following an explosion in Mexico. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images)