Massive Explosion at Venezuela’s Largest Oil Refinery Kills 39, Injures Dozens
- Posted on August 25, 2012 at 5:21pm by
Erica Ritz
- Print »
- Email »
Fire turns the sky orange over the Amuay refinery near Punto Fijo, Venezuela Saturday. (Photo: AP)
(The Blaze/AP) — A massive explosion rocked Venezuela’s largest oil refinery and unleashed a ferocious fire Saturday, killing at least 39 people and injuring more than 80 others in one of the deadliest disasters ever to hit the country’s key oil industry.
Balls of fire rose over the Amuay refinery, among the largest in the world, in video posted on the Internet by people who were nearby at the time. Government officials pledged to restart the refinery within two days, adding that the country has plenty of fuel supplies on hand to meet its domestic needs as well as its export commitments.
At least 86 people were injured, nine of them seriously, Health Minister Eugenia Sader said at a hospital where the wounded were taken. She said 77 people suffered light injuries and were released. Tragically, one of the individuals killed was a 10-year-old boy.
Fire rises over the Amuay oil refinery near Punto Fijo, Venezuela, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012. (Photo: AP)
President Hugo Chavez declared three days of mourning for the country.
“This affects all of us,” the man said by phone on state television. “It’s very sad, very painful.”
He also reportedly a “deep investigation” to determine what exactly caused the explosion.
Vice President Elias Jaua, who traveled to the area in western Venezuela, said the authorities tried “to save the greatest number of lives.”
Officials said firefighters had controlled the flames at the refinery on the Paraguana Peninsula, where clouds of dark smoke still billowed in the afternoon.
Reuters has amateur video of the tragedy:
The blast occurred about 1:15 a.m. when a gas leak created a cloud that ignited, Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez said. He said an adjacent National Guard post was severely damaged by the blast, along with nearby homes.
“That gas generated a cloud that later exploded and has caused fires in at least two tanks of the refinery and surrounding areas,” Ramirez said. “The blast wave was of a significant magnitude.”
Images in the early hours after the explosion showed the flames casting an orange glow against the night sky. One photograph showed an injured man being wheeled away on a stretcher.
“All of the events happened very quickly,” Ramirez explained. “When we got here in the middle of the night, at 3 or 3:30 in the morning, the fire was at its peak.”
He said supplies of fuel had been cut off to part of the refinery, and that the fire had been brought under control, though the flames continued to burn up fuel in some of the tanks. Firefighters, he said, were using foam to extinguish the flames in one of the remaining tanks.
An injured oil worker sits in a wheelchair at a hospital in Punto Fijo, Venezuela, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012. (Photo: AP)
“This regrettable and sad event is controlled, is under control,” Ramirez said on television, while plumes of smoke continued to billow.
Amuay is part of the Paraguana Refinery Complex, which also includes the adjacent Cardon refinery. Together, the two refineries process about 900,000 barrels of crude per day and 200,000 barrels of gasoline. Venezuela is a major supplier of oil to the U.S. and a member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.
“We want to tell the country that we have sufficient inventories of fuel. We have 10 days of inventory of fuel,” Ramirez said, reiterating that the country’s other refineries are operating at full capacity and will be able to “deal with any situation in our domestic market. … In that sense, we won’t have major effects.”
In terms of international oil markets, the disaster is not likely to cause much of a ripple, said Jason Schenker, an energy analyst and president of Austin, Texas-based Prestige Economics LLC. Noting that other refinery accidents and shutdowns regularly occur around the world, he said: “There’s likely to be relatively limited impact on global crude or product pricing.”
“The real tragedy,” he said, “is that these events continue to happen, not just in Venezuela but everywhere. It is a dangerous business.”
Fire rises over the Amuay oil refinery near Punto Fijo, Venezuela, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012. (Photo: AP)
While the cause of Saturday’s disaster remains unclear, some oil workers and critics of Chavez’s government have recently pointed to increasing numbers of smaller accidents and spills as an indication of problems within the state-run company.
“This tragedy is probably the worst one the oil industry has had in many years. Accidents happen, of course, although the problem with PDVSA is the inordinate amount of accidents that have taken place during the last years,” said Gustavo Coronel, an energy consultant and former executive of PDVSA. Considering that record overall, Coronel said, “we are not talking about bad luck but about lack of maintenance and inept management.”
Ivan Freites, a labor leader and employee who has worked at the refinery for 29 years, said workers had repeatedly alerted PDVSA officials to problems that they feared could lead to an accident.
“It’s the first time that we see something like this in Venezuela, and it‘s not a coincidence because we’ve been complaining about problems and risks, including fires, broken pipes and a lack of spare parts,” Freites said in a telephone interview on Saturday from an area located a few miles (kilometers) from the refinery.
Firefighters and rescue teams work at the Amuay oil refinery after an explosion in Punto Fijo, Venezuela, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012. (Photo: AP)
“We warned that something was going to happen, a catastrophic event,” said Freites, secretary general of a 1,200-member union of oil and natural gas industry workers in Falcon state.
Deadly explosions at pipelines and refineries have taken a toll over the years in various countries, in some instances claiming hundreds of lives.
In one deadly incident in Venezuela in 1993, a natural gas pipeline exploded beneath a highway in Las Tejerias, engulfing a passenger bus and cars. Officials said 36 people were killed.
Opposition leader Henrique Capriles, who is challenging Chavez in the country’s Oct. 7 presidential election, expressed condolences to the victims and their families.
“We Venezuelans are one, and we grow in the face of this type of situations,” Capriles said.
—-
Associated Press writers Jorge Rueda, Fabiola Sanchez and Christopher Toothaker contributed to this report.
This post has been updated.
Popular Stories
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 706 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 550 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 367 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 363 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 361 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 363 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 367 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 281 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 149 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 302 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 363 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (42)
heyjim55
Posted on August 26, 2012 at 1:06pmIf Chavez is true to his ideology he doesn’t give a crap about those people , however I am curious about what really happened there. Was it sabotage? I know we buy oil from them but Chavez just signed a long term deal with China which is much larger than what we have with them. Some speculate that Chavez will eventually cut America off and sell it’s oil to China and other countries that are on the opposite side of American policies. Not to mention continue a build up of weapons and assist Iran, Egypt, Syria, South Africa and other nations in a alliance against the US.
Report Post »Spankster
Posted on August 26, 2012 at 12:03pmThe only thing this Jerk Off mourns is the loss of dollars from the sell of that oil.
Report Post »KidCharlemagne
Posted on August 26, 2012 at 2:09pmActually, nothing could be further from the truth.
Report Post »watman43
Posted on August 26, 2012 at 9:55amstate run oil co go figure. the add in the story is a GM add state run auto
Report Post »limalimamike
Posted on August 26, 2012 at 7:34amJuego Chorro….
nuff said
Report Post »Bob
Posted on August 26, 2012 at 6:10am“Government officials pledged to restart the refinery within two days”
LOL, two months, maybe.
Report Post »The Jewish Avenger
Posted on August 26, 2012 at 8:04am…and overnight, the cost of gas jumps to $8.00 a gallon.
Report Post »watman43
Posted on August 26, 2012 at 9:56amhe ran the oil company,s out what makes you think the gov can do the job
Report Post »Watermain
Posted on August 26, 2012 at 2:24amWish Chavez would have been visiting at the time…
Report Post »sbenard
Posted on August 26, 2012 at 12:57amThis is what happens when governments confiscate the property of private businesses and seek to run them.
Report Post »ThoreauHD
Posted on August 26, 2012 at 12:06amThis is what Communism looks like.
Report Post »db321
Posted on August 26, 2012 at 12:52amYea when the Dictator declares 3 days of Morning. Everyone one will morn their own way, I do think any of them needs Chavez to declare how many day everyone should morn. I can almost hear Obama doing this, but my trained ears tell me he‘s lying and that he really doesn’t even care about those people.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 10:57pmSo, Citgo petroleum products will now increase even more, I guess.
Report Post »Ted Zeppelin
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 9:23pmThis accident couldn’t happen in the USA because the EPA is in charge of Ending Productivity in America, as they are the Employment Prevention Act. It‘s had it’s budget doubled by President Obysmal and is Enforcing President’s Agenda.
The GLBT community infected the Keystone Pipeline project with aids and the barack-suckers ended it.
Report Post »Skrewedretiree
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 9:27pmSay, whah? Are you on drugs? Try again and try to be coherent.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 10:59pmHey, I saw Ted Zeppelin at Tampa Stadium in June of ‘73 when they broke the Beatles’ record for the largest crowd to see a single band at Shea Stadium in ‘64.
Report Post »No….wait….that was Led Zeppelin! It was the seventies.
sbenard
Posted on August 26, 2012 at 1:00amI LOVE it! If ScrewedRetiree can’t understand it, that says something about them, not you! Perhaps “Screwed” needs to get an education!
Report Post »Bigmac1947
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 8:24pmVenezuela, don’t call America for help or support. Your constant attack on America has burned your bridges. I never by gas at Vallero or walk in your doors in America. I want your company and stores to fail. You use your money to support crime on humanity.
Report Post »HotFixIt
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 8:06pmHow long will it be before Obama announces that we are loaning Hugo the money to rebuild?
Report Post »Skrewedretiree
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 9:26pmMoney we have to borrow from China, by the way.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 11:04pmHOTFIXIT, Loaning? Don’t you mean a grant as in an investment in our future. Then Chavez will cut us off.
Report Post »hoosierblue
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 7:53pmSome stinking gringo pig must be responsible. /s
Report Post »bigdog71360
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 9:01pmBush did it! Lol
Report Post »jroar
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 7:52pmThe cause of this fire was due to a gas leak. This tells me that they either didn’t have Fire and Gas detectors, there ESD (emergency Shutdown System) was put in bypass or not working. When you see flames coming from a flare stack the problem has already solved itself. In this case everything went to hell in a hand basket. Maintenance problems might be a symptom but bad management is more likely the real culprit. The other reason for such an explosion would be flaws in the engineering or equipment failure. Because you can buy just about anything you need from other countries I doubt it was equipment failure. This was either human error and a lack of management responsibility taking control (i.e. Not having a Competency Assurance Standard such as OIMS (Operational Integrity Management Systems)) or CIMS (Competency Integrity Management Systems).
If they had United States expats working in the plant, none of this would have happened.
Report Post »HOOT_OWL
Posted on August 26, 2012 at 6:46amI’m thinking your confusing this story with way to many facts.
Report Post »Or you own property next to a oil refinery ,here in the U.S.
Diane TX
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 6:55pmChavez and Obama – brothers of the same color – red!
Report Post »bikerdogred1
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 6:22pmWhen you get help from cuba and iran oh well.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 6:13pm“We want to tell the country that we have sufficient inventories of fuel. We have 10 days of inventory of fuel,” Ramirez said, reiterating that the country’s other refineries are operating at full capacity
Report Post »***
Ummm, No. If the other refineries are running full out then that means supplies will get tighter & price will go up.
Skrewedretiree
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 9:28pmJust in time for the elections, by the way…..
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 11:07pmWALKABOUT, I got back to that other story a little while ago and posted that link for you. Sorry to have taken so long. If that is a woman he is with…..eeeeeeuuuuuuuu!
Report Post »John 1776
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 6:05pmAll those greenhouse gasses getting away! Al Gore is probably in a traumatic state of shock! (No, he probably just took a drive in his SUV to check out a new heated swimming pool.)
All kidding aside, my heart goes out to the innocent people and their families who have no choice as to the unsafe working conditions they are exposed to, and are told to pee in the shower to save energy. (While their government wastes it.)
Report Post »JUSTANOTHEROPINION
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 5:55pmMy heart and prayers re with these people and the poor people of Hatti that has been pounded by Isaac. OMG!!!!
Report Post »pissantno.10
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 5:46pmto bad but we will give them the stuff to fix it so hugo and obama will look good
Report Post »paulwbrown
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 5:45pmAs I recall Venezuela owns CITGO, and we get a lot of our refined gas from Venezuela. The poor conditions of Venezuela’s refineries is Just one more reason to elect Romney and assure we have a adequate supply of domestic fossil fuel. The fact that Chavez is a communist who hates the USA is another reason.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 6:16pmAgreed.
But Chavez might blame this on saboteurs rather than maintenance delayed or not performed at all.
It might rally the base & give him a boost in the polls.
Mexico state run oil company is damaging oil fields & damaging the Mexican economy, but the feather bedded unions feel A-OK.
Report Post »The_Cabrito_Goat
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 6:52pmThat’s a good point. It reminds me of the warehouses of spoiled milk in Venezuela years ago. In a socialism, where’s the incentive to transport the milk once it reaches your warehouse? You were already paid for the job.
Report Post »KidCharlemagne
Posted on August 26, 2012 at 12:10amWalkabout
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 6:16pm
But Chavez might blame this on saboteurs
====================================
It certainly wouldn’t be unprecedented.
Report Post »FREEDOMoverFEAR
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 5:44pmToo bad Obama didn’t resume drilling 2 days after BP exploded. Maybe Chavez is more of a business man than Obama.
Report Post »ACACIA
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 5:31pmany time a goverment runs something it is a disaster. goverment must not run any business that can be run by private business.
Report Post »boogaloobilly
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 5:30pmGubment run. Odd. And a labor leader complained. Oh my goodness! Hope Maxine Stoneface Watters happens across this story!!
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on August 25, 2012 at 5:25pm“Punto fijo” may just be a misnomer.
Report Post »