A gas pipeline in the Mexican state of Hidalgo exploded on Friday night which killed at least 71 people, burning many to just bones or ash, and injured at least 74-were still reeling from the tragedy Saturday.
"Some people's skin came off. It was very ugly, horrible. People screamed and cried".
After the blast, "People shouted the names of their husbands, brothers, their family members," and recalled, of people searching for loved ones.
"It was very ugly, horrible. People screamed and cried."
On Saturday, health officials were taking DNA samples from relatives to help identify the dead, dozens of whom were badly burned.
Isaias Garcia, a farmer who witnessed the explosion from a distance, explained why so many had come to the area. "Everyone came to see if they could get a bit of gasoline for their car," he said. "There isn't any in the gas stations."
"Some people came out burning and screaming," he added.
The tragedy comes as Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador– known as "AMLO," who took office in December-has vowed to eradicate fuel thieves who illegally drilled taps into pipelines an estimated 12,581 times during the first 10 months of 2018, an average of about 42 violations per day.
"We are going to eradicate that which not only causes material damages, it is not only what the nation loses by this illegal trade, this black market of fuel, but the risk, the danger, the loss of human lives," said Lopez Obrador, who ran on an anti-corruption platform before being elected last year.
Our condolences go out to those who lost their lives in Mexico yesterday.
Friday evening had begun much differently. Hundreds of people gathered in a festive atmosphere in a field in Tlahuelilpan in Hidalgo State – about 62 miles north of Mexico City – to where a duct had been punctured by fuel thieves, sending gasoline spewing 20 feet in the air.
The pipeline, which was operated by state oil company Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex, then burst into flames and exploded. Pemex Chief Executive Octavio Romero said around 10,000 barrels of gasoline were rushing through the pipeline when it ruptured.
He said fuel theft costs Mexico up to $3.5 billion annually.
Mexican Defense Secretary Luis Cresencio said Saturday that 50 soldiers are stationed every 12 miles along the pipeline, aided by patrols. They have been ordered not to confront fuel thieves out of fear that it could result in the shooting of unarmed civilians or soldiers being attacked by a mob.
Last week, the pipeline that runs from the coastal city of Tuxpan to Mexico City was sabotaged in retaliation for government's new measures, the president said.
Mr. López Obrador had blamed the thefts, in part, on the "incompetence or complacency" of local authorities, and has maintained that his tactics have reduced the amount of fuel stolen.
"I have said it before, and I'll say it again: Let's see who gets tired first, because we will stop the fuel theft," he said.
Many gas stations were closed after the incident happened.
