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One dead two injured in Mennonite cheese facility explosion

Hopelchén, Campeche — An explosion at a cheese facility in the state of Campeche has left one dead and two injured. The owner of the Hopelchén facility, 48 year old Abraham “H”, died shortly after the inside of his shop exploded.

The accident happened September 16 at a cheese making facility in Field 8.5 of the Hopelchén Mennonite community. According to available information, a leaking LP gas tank caused the interior explosion that reduced the small building to rubble. The 8:30 a.m. explosion shook the community who rushed to the facility.

Other community members found two young employees from inside the shop with non-life-threatening injuries. All three were transferred for medical care by community members, however, Abraham “H” died along the way.

Reports since the explosion say the LP gas leak at the facility, which had been renovated weeks earlier, caused the explosion of a boiling water tank used in the production of yellow cheeses. Municipal authorities were not officially notified of the Hopelchén accident.

Last week, federal officials reported closing down 17 Mennonite communities and laying charges against 13 for illegal logging. Two of the Mennonite communities shut down were in Hopelchén, Campeche.