Feb 22, 2019:
The death toll from the January 19 pipeline explosion has risen to 109. Twenty-three burn victims are still hospitalized.
Pipeline blast death toll 109; residents report illegal taps | Mexico News Daily
Feb 21, 2019:
At a press conference, PEMEX CEO Octavio Romero said that since November of last year fuel theft has decreased over 90%.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador credited the decrease to 1) his recent strategy to close major pipelines and rely more on gasoline tanker trucks to transport gasoline, and 2) assistance from the military in stopping theft.
Pemex chief highlights major reduction in daily fuel theft numbers | Mexico News Daily
Jan 22, 2019:
The death toll from the January 19 pipeline explosion has risen to 96.
Death toll in Mexico gasoline pipeline blast climbs to 96 | Reuters
Jan 20, 2019:
Missteps in Mexican pipeline blast trigger new scrutiny of fuel plan | Reuters
Jan 19, 2019:
A gasoline pipeline explosion in the town of Tlahuelilpan, Mexico killed 73 people. Tlahuelilpan is in the state of Hidalgo, about 60 miles north of Mexico City.
Prior to the explosion fuel thieves tapped into a gasoline pipeline causing a 20-foot geyser of fuel to spew into the air. Over the course of two hours, hundreds of people gathered near the geyser trying to capture gasoline in various types of containers. The cause of the explosion is unknown.
The Mexican state-owned oil company Petroleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) said the pipeline had just been reopened on December 23. PEMEX also said the pipeline had been breached 10 times in the past three months.
During the first 10 months of 2018, 12,581 illegal pipeline taps occurred (an average of 42 per day and a 45 percent increase over 2017). The total annual dollar value of gasoline stolen via pipelines in Mexico is about $3 billion.
In some rural areas of Mexico gasoline pipelines are covered by only one or two feet of earth making them relatively easy to access.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador recently began an offensive against pipeline gasoline theft by deploying 3,200 marines to guard pipelines and refineries, by shutting down some pipelines to detect and deter illegal taps, and by transporting more gasoline by tanker truck. Unfortunately, shutting down pipelines and relying more on tankers has caused major shortages of gasoline at gas stations.
Source:
Stevenson, Mark. (January 19, 2019). "Mexican pipeline explosion kills 73, leaves nightmare of ash". Associated Press. Retrieved 2019-01-27.
Rosati, Andrew; Quinn, Dale. (January 19, 2019). "Mexican Fuel Explosion Poses AMLO's Biggest Test Yet". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 2019-01-28.
Mexico fuel pipeline blast kills 73, witnesses describe horror | Reuters
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