Oil plant explosion injures 3 workers on Gulf Coast

MEXICO CITY – A powerful explosion ripped through an oil plant on the southern coast of the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday, injuring three workers, authorities said.

Veracruz state Gov. Javier Duarte’s Twitter account called the blast at the plant in the city of Coatzacoalcos a “strong explosion,” and images broadcast on Mexican television showed a large plume of black smoke reaching into the sky.

State-run oil company Petroleos Mexicanos said it was responding to an “accident that took place at the Clorados 3 plant of the company Petroquimica Mexicana de Vinilo.”

Pemex said three employees were injured.

It added that the plant is operated by another company, Mexichem, with which it has an association.

Duarte said Civil Protection officials were coordinating with Pemex to respond.