Mexico: Death Toll Rises To 32 In Pemex Oil Company Building Blast

Mexico: Death toll rises to 32 in Pemex oil company building blast < br />

2013-02-02 13:36:47 GMT+7 (ICT)

MEXICO CITY (BNO NEWS) -- At least 25 people have been confirmed dead after a powerful blast struck the head offices of Mexico's state-run oil company on Thursday, officials said Friday.

The explosion took place at around 3:40 p.m. local time in the B2 Pemex building, located on Marina Nacional Avenue in Mexico City's Miguel Hidalgo delegation. It is next to the Pemex (Petroleos Mexicanos) famous tower, which is the city's second tallest.

Mexican Secretary of State Miguel Angel Osorio Chong, on Thursday night confirmed the deaths of at least 25 people with over 100 injured, but Pemex General Director, Emilio Lozoya Austin, on Friday said at least 32 people had been killed. Following a meeting with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, Lozoya Austin visited the site early Friday morning, stating that among the dead were 20 women and 12 men. In addition, he said 121 people were injured with 52 of them still hospitalized.

While some reports indicate that the blast was caused by an electrical malfunction, others said gas accumulated and ultimately caused the explosion. It took place in the building's bottom floors. Nonetheless, Lozoya Austin only said Mexican and foreign experts were investigating the situation, disclosing no details.

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