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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Mexico investigating fatal pipeline explosion

Associated Press

MEXICO CITY – Federal crime investigators began their probe Monday into what caused a massive oil pipeline explosion that killed 28 people and laid waste to parts of a central Mexican city.

Valentin Meneses, interior secretary for the state of Puebla, where San Martin Texmelucan is located, said 32 homes were destroyed and 83 partially damaged by the blast.

“A commission has been named that together with Pemex (Petroleos Mexicanos, the state oil company) is investigating what happened,” Meneses said.

The scene of the disaster has been closed off and is being patrolled by police, Meneses added. Cleanup experts are also making sure there is no combustible material remaining in drains, which could threaten a new explosion.

Sunday’s blast in San Martin Texmelucan, about 55 miles east of Mexico City, left metal and pavement twisted and in some cases burned to ash in the intense heat.

Thirteen of the dead were children, and at least 52 people were injured. Scores of displaced residents were in shelters Monday; officials have not given an exact figure.

Authorities say thieves attempting to siphon oil caused a leak in the pipeline, sending black crude gushing into a street and flowing into a nearby river. It is not known what caused the oil to ignite.

Investigators found a hole in the pipeline and equipment for extracting crude, according to Laura Gurza, chief of the federal Civil Protection emergency response agency.

Authorities including President Felipe Calderon have promised to stop at nothing to bring whoever is responsible to justice. There have been no arrests so far, however.

At a news conference Monday night, Pemex director Juan Jose Suarez Coppel said that while preliminary signs still point to an attempted theft – including a ditch near the leak that appears to have been dug by humans – they cannot entirely rule out mechanical failure.