Numerous Casualties in Another Mexico Pipeline Explosion

A new pipeline explosion occurred in Mexico, which led to numerous casualties, the Excelsior news portal reported on Thursday.

According to preliminary data, the explosion occurred in the early hours on Thursday in the municipality of Reforma in the state of Chiapas. The so-called huachicoleros, criminals who specialize in illegally tapping pipelines to steal fuel, tried to make yet another tap in the pipe.

The exact number of victims has not yet been established, but several cars belonging to the criminals were completely burned at the scene.

The previous deadly explosion happened on January 18 at Mexico’s major Tuxpan-Tula pipeline, which was similarly caused by a suspected attempt to steal fuel and has claimed 135 lives, according to the latest data.

Mexico has been experiencing fuel shortages, which were caused by the government’s crackdown on huachicoleros. As part of these policies, Mexican state oil company Pemex closed several large oil pipelines.