On the night of July 26, around 500 people from “Colonia Bellavista and Ampliación Bellavista” in Salamanca, Guanajuato, were evacuated by the authorities, due to a gas leakage in the propane Pemex pipeline. This incident occurred near the “Dren Sardinas” river , on “Circuito Cuauhtémoc“. Other streets next to the refinery Antonio M. Amor were also closed to traffic.
The preliminary information pointed out the gas leak was reported at 10 p.m. However, the Fire deparment and Civil Protection agents arrived until 2 am on Wednesday 27.
Gas leakage in Salamanca Guanajuato (Photo: asisucedegto.mx)
At the risk of an explosion, emergency personnel indicated the residents not to use switches or electrical appliances, proceeding with the evacuation and taking civilians to the refuge. However, some families did not want to leave their homes. On the other hand, one of the families did not hesitate to leave the city, and headed to Irapuato.
25 people felt sick due to the gas leakage, and were treated at the scene by paramedics of the local Red Cross and the Lions Club.
Finally, on Wednesday July 27 around 6 am, the main gas line was closed, and the pipeline was purged from any remaining gas. The fire brigade of PEMEX arrived with irrigation trucks to clean up the area.
According to “El sol del Bajío“, the propane gas leakage was provoked by a clandestine tap opened to steal gas from the pipelines that communicate the distributor of Valtierrilla with the Abasolo community. No one was arrested for this federal crime that additionaly could have turned into a tragedy of big proportions in the event of an explosion.
Fortunately, no injuries or intoxications were reported, and the Salamanca PEMEX Refinery announced through a press release that it is currently operating normally, without danger for the population.
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