On October 15, local officials in Venezuela reported a fire that broke out at an oil storage tank operated by the state-owned oil company, PDVSA, at the La Salina oil terminal. The incident left at least 21 individuals injured, including workers, nearby residents, and firefighters.
According to reports, the fire ignited early in the morning and continued to burn throughout the night. The location is near the western city of CAVIMAS, along the shores of Lake Maracaibo, where PDVSA handles the transportation of crude oil and fuel between domestic ports.
Videos from the scene captured the collapse of the cylindrical structure of the oil tank. One source close to the situation mentioned that nearby residents heard explosions, followed by flames shooting higher into the sky.
“It was chaotic at the scene,” remarked another witness. “Just like what you see in the videos.”
CAVIMAS Fire Chief Mufied Jumedan stated, “Many individuals were exposed to extreme heat. So far, we have reported 21 minor injuries.” He also indicated that the number of injured could rise.
Earlier that day, firefighters from CAVIMAS expressed that they were working diligently to control and extinguish the blaze amidst thick clouds of black smoke.
As of now, PDVSA has not issued any statements regarding the incident.
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