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Explosions Rip Through Gas LP Storage in Tepeaca, Forcing Large Evacuations

Authorities have secured the site and handed investigations to ministerial and security bodies to determine cause and whether the storage was illegal.

Overview

  • A fireball and large smoke column erupted at a storage site for autotanques in San Juan Negrete, Tepeaca, early Thursday, when multiple gas LP tanks exploded and burned.
  • Emergency teams activated a Comando Unificado and evacuated about 2,000 people as a precaution, including roughly 1,700 students from Centro Escolar General Miguel Negrete Novoa.
  • Puebla Governor Alejandro Armenta confirmed three people were injured and said there are no reported fatalities.
  • Firefighters and Protección Civil continued cooling affected units and securing the perimeter while 59 personnel from state and local agencies worked the scene.
  • Officials found additional storage areas during inspections and have turned the case over to ministerial and security authorities to probe causes and the possible illicit origin of the fuel.