At least 28 people have been reported killed in an oil-pipeline explosion in central Mexico.
The blast hit the town of San Martin Texmelucan before dawn on December 19, destroying homes and vehicles and causing streams of flaming crude to spread through the city’s streets.
Early reports indicate as many as 13 of the 28 fatalities appear to be children.
Authorities said they are investigating whether the explosion was caused by thieves trying to siphon oil from a pipeline operated by the state-owned company Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex.
Officials say no suspects have been detained in connection with the incident.
Petroleos Mexicanos is the biggest enterprise in Mexico and Latin America and the highest fiscal contributor to the country.
In 2006 the daily average production was three million 255.6 thousand barrels per day.
Â
