Salina Cruz, Oaxaca — Two people were killed and one severely burned in a fire at the Antonio Dovalí Jaime refinery in Salina Cruz. The fatal fire happened late Saturday.
The victims have been identified as 21-year-old Mariana Sánchez Bailón and 26-year-old Erick Martínez Rodríguez. Both Pemex workers were killed when the Primary II plant of the refinery suddenly went up in flames.
Initial investigations indicate that the fire was caused by a hydrocarbon spill that leaked through the drainage system and storm drains during a heavy rain, causing the flames to spread rapidly and uncontrollably.
In a press conference, Pemex reported that on Saturday, a storm caused the city’s storm drains and the Pemex oil drains to overflow, allowing hydrocarbons to escape into the street.
According to preliminary reports, the fire started due to an accumulation of oil and gasoline residue in the drainage system. Pemex has said that it will be the authorities who will carry out the investigation and determine the ignition point that activated the internal emergency plan at the Pemex refinery.
The two deceased were subcontracted workers on the wastewater treatment plant project. The injured person is 25-year-old Julián Meléndez Martínez, who is being treated at an IMSS hospital in Mexico City.
