A powerful blast and subsequent fire broke out in the late hours of 28 January in the municipality of San Agustin Tlaxiaca, according to the newspaper El Universal.
Military, police, civil defence forces, as well as representatives from the pipeline’s owner, Mexican state oil company Pemex, are working at the scene.
Photos and videos of the incident have already appeared online.
The blast comes after a deadly explosion at Mexico's Tuxpan-Tula pipleine, which was similarly caused by a suspected attempt to steal fuel and has claimed 115 lives, according to the latest data.
Personal de la 18/a. Zona Militar (Pachuca, Hgo.) aplica el #PLANDNIIIE en su “Fase de Auxilio”, proporcionando seguridad perimetral en el área del percance ocurrido por una fuga en ductos de combustible en Mpio. de San Agustín Tlaxiaca, Hgo. pic.twitter.com/0L3oOHHLpU
— SEDENA México (@SEDENAmx) 29 января 2019 г.
READ MORE: Death Toll From Oil Pipeline Blast in Central Mexico Rises to 114
Mexico has been experiencing severe fuel shortages caused by the government's crackdown on huachicoleros, criminals who specialise in illegally tapping pipelines to steal fuel. As part of these policies, Pemex has closed several large oil pipelines. Now, fuel is mainly being delivered by tankers instead of pipelines, which has led to a decrease in supply.
