Pemex pipeline explodes during illegal tap disablement in Hidalgo; two injured

An explosion rocked a Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) pipeline in Epazoyucan, Hidalgo, on Sunday afternoon, leaving at least two people injured with burns. The blast occurred in the community of Xolostitla while Pemex personnel were working to disable an illegal tap on the pipeline.

The incident triggered a large-scale mobilization of state and municipal police, the National Guard, the Secretariat of National Defense, firefighters, Pemex workers, and Civil Protection personnel. The injured individuals were transported to a hospital for treatment.

According to the Secretariat of Security, the explosion and subsequent fire, which sent flames meters high and was visible from the Pachuca-Tulancingo highway, occurred during the process of disabling the clandestine tap. As a precautionary measure, some nearby homes were evacuated.

Emergency responders are currently engaged in efforts to control and extinguish the fire, with authorities reporting that containment efforts have mitigated the risk to the population. The incident highlights the ongoing dangers associated with illegal fuel siphoning operations in the region.