A massive blast on a state-owned pipeline killed 22 people, injured 32 others and damaged dozens of surrounding homes in central Mexico on Sunday, Puebla state officials said in updating the toll. Puebla state secretary Valentin Meneses said the pre-dawn explosion occurred along the Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) pipeline in the town of Texmelucan, where thieves were trying to steal fuel.
Early indications suggested it was caused by a perforation of the pipeline during the attempted theft. Some 83 homes were partially damaged and 32 were completely destroyed according to Meneses. Officials had initially reported that at least 11 people were killed in the blast.
"A criminal gang punctured the pipeline of state-owned Pemex, which spilled fuel out of control because of the high degree of pressure. The streets began to flood, then came a spark and we saw rivers of fire in the streets," said Meneses.
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