Blast Hits Mexico Petrochemical Plant, Kills 13, Injures Dozens

An explosion killed 13 people and injured scores at a petrochemical plant on Mexico's southern Gulf coast. The blast and ensuing fire caused evacuations in the area as a fire billowed a toxin-filled cloud into the air.

The head of Mexico's civil defense agency, Luis Felipe Puente, wrote in his Twitter account Thursday that emergency personnel had been able to enter the burned-out plant and found ten more cadavers. Three workers had been reported dead immediately following the blast Wednesday afternoon.

The state oil company, Petroleos Mexicanos, said 136 workers had been hurt in the blast in the industrial port city of Coatzacoalcos. Eighty-eight of the injured remained hospitalized.

Veracruz state Gov. Javier Duarte also told Radio Formula that the blast was felt as far as 6 miles (10 kilometers) away, adding that more than 2,000 people were evacuated from the area as a precaution.

Pemex reported the fire under control late Wednesday, but initially urged people to stay away from the area as a precaution.

"The cloud that emanated from the PMV plant in Coatzacoalcos is dissipating rapidly, which means it is losing its toxic effects," it said via its Twitter account.

The company said there was no longer any danger to people nearby. Still, local officials canceled classes at area schools for Thursday.

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