Attempts to steal fuel from Mexican pipeline set off massive fireball, killing at least 66

Dozens of people were killed and many more injured when a pipeline ruptured by suspected fuel thieves exploded in central Mexico. (Reuters)

MEXICO CITY — At least 66 people were killed when a fuel pipeline exploded outside Mexico City, unleashing a massive fireball after residents tapped into the duct to steal buckets of gasoline, officials said Saturday.

The explosion late Friday occurred in the midst of the Mexican government’s campaign against oil theft, which costs the country about $3 billion per year. Earlier this month, Mexico’s new president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, closed many of the country’s pipelines, saddling dozens of cities with an acute gasoline shortage.

The governor of Hidalgo state, Omar Fayad, said Saturday the death toll had risen to at least 66.

López Obrador rushed to the state of Hidalgo, where the explosion occurred, about 60 miles north of Mexico City.

“We are appalled by these events, by this tragedy and we want, first of all, to offer our deepest condolences to the families of the victims, to inform the families of the victims that the entire government is with them,” he said.

Comments

Sarfraz apologises for 'black guy' comment

"My words were not directed towards anyone in particular and I certainly had no intention of upsetting anyone," says Sarfraz Ahmed. Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed apologised on Wednesday following a controversial comment aimed at South Africa’s Andile Phehlukwayo which was picked up by a stump microphone during the second one-day international in Durban on Tuesday. The incident occurred in the 37th over of South Africa’s run-chase during the game at Kingsmead when Phehlukwayo got an inside edge off a Shaheen Shah Afridi delivery that narrowly missed the stumps. As Phehlukwayo, who was on 50 at the time, ran to the non-striker’s end, Sarfraz was heard on the stump microphone saying in Urdu: "Abey kaale, teri ammi aaj kahaan baitheen hain? Kya parwa ke aaye hai aaj?" When translated into English that means: "Hey black guy, where’s your mother sitting today? What [prayer] have you got her to say for you today?" The skipper tweeted...

Two youths killed by Indian forces in occupied Kashmir

Indian government has deployed forces across occupied Kashmir as residents observe Black Day. Indian troops killed two Kashmiri youths in the Khonmoh area of Srinagar, Kashmir Media Service (KMS) said on Saturday. Clashes between Indian police and residents of the area erupted in the aftermath of the killings, when Indian police used force to disperse demonstrators who had come out on the streets to protest. The killings took place on India's Republic Day, which is observed as Black Day by residents of Indian-occupied Kashmir and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The call to observe India's Republic Day as Black Day was given by the Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), that is led by Syed Ali Gillani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik, the KMS said. The JRL leaders said in a statement that India had "no justification" to observe Republic Day in held Kashmir as the territory had been "illegally occupied" against the wishes of Kashmiri ...

I used my heart and head while making Paray Hut Love, shares filmmaker Asim Raza

He opens up about his upcoming flick and how he's tried to stay true to his vision while making a film with mass appeal Director Asim Raza is meticulous to the core — and I speak from first-hand experience. Given exclusive access to the sets of his upcoming movie Paray Hut Love (PHL), I sat with him while he scrutinised a monitor linked directly to the recording cameras. It was a dusty, cold day in Karachi’s Commune Artist Colony and the entire crew wore face masks to ward away the grime suspended in the air. To no avail. Asim’s allergies had gotten aggravated and he coughed sporadically, in between takes but never during filming. That’s Asim Raza for you; when the camera is rolling, he’ll just swallow down his cough, no matter how terrible it is. Gazing at the screen, he asked for a retake. “Saife’s head needs to tilt a bit more towards Sheheryar,” he had observed. Actor and director Saife Hassan was shooting with him on th...

Articles

Search This Blog