Pollution
Humain
Environnement
Economique

In a refinery, an explosion (in a pumping station, site’s fire hall?) caused a pipeline to rupture resulting in four people sustaining injuries including one case of serious injury. An 800 m³ oil slick was formed on the COATZACOALCOS over 1.3 km. The black slick, directed to the Gulf of Mexico at 50 km from the accident site by the strong winds and river currents, polluted the beaches: swimming was prohibited in two of the beaches. Oil booms were installed to prevent the slick from spreading. The navy was busy in site clean up operations estimated to last 3 months. Ducks, several fishes and aquatic flora were effected. The fishermen of the region filed a complaint.

The pipeline was re-commissioned two days after the accident.