Explosion at Mexico oil plant injures 30

Mexico City: A spectacular explosion at an oil facility in southeastern Mexico has injured at least 30 workers, state-run energy giant Pemex said.

A huge plume of gray smoke could be seen spewing from the plant known as Pajaritos, in the city of Coatzacoalcos yesterday. The blast forced the evacuation of nearby schools and businesses.

The cause of the explosion at the Petroquimica Mexicana de Vinilo (PMV) plant was not immediately known. The facility is run in partnership with Pemex.

Fires at oil facilities in Mexico are fairly regular occurrences.

In February, two people were killed and at least seven were injured in a blaze at a Pemex oil platform off the coast of Campeche, also in the southeast.