The fire broke out on Friday in Tlahuelilpan, in eastern Mexico. According to local media reports, a leak in the oil pipeline – a pipeline used to transport oil – had been reported a few hours earlier. This had attracted dozens of local residents, who had come to collect fuel armed with buckets and jerrycans.
The governor of Hidalgo State, Omar Fayad, told local television Foro TV "that 20 people were burnt to death.""54 people have suffered burns; they have been transferred and are currently being treated."", he added. "We know that it was an unauthorised withdrawal and that the relevant authorities were already looking into it".
Shocking images
On Twitter, several images showing the intensity of the flames have been shared. Local media have also shown dozens of people helping themselves from the leak where the fuel was pouring out in a steady stream.
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— Newsweek en Español (@NewsweekEspanol) 19 January 2019
An illegal fuel tap in Tlahuelilpan, Hidalgo, has exploded; several people are reported to have been injured.
Photo: @CriterioHidalgo. pic.twitter.com/pRFQi08PBz
Illegal tap #Huachicol caught fire in #Tlahuelilpan, Hidalgo reports a preliminary figure of 50 people with burns; emergency services are at the scene. pic.twitter.com/wD8LCSNtJq
— Juan Carlos Villegas (@JcVillegasR) 19 January 2019
It is not yet possible to put a figure on the number of injured and dead, as hospitals are reportedly overwhelmed by the fire at the illegal petrol tap in #Tlahuelilpan #Hidalgo #Huachicol pic.twitter.com/0d5QK6NJlq
— Juan Carlos Villegas (@JcVillegasR) 19 January 2019