At least five people were killed and two others injured Tuesday in an explosion and fire at a tequila factory in the northwestern Mexican municipality of Tequila, authorities said.
In a message on its X account, Civil Protection of the state of Jalisco, where the town that gives its name to the most famous drink in the country is located, both the deceased and the injured – one of them in serious condition – were workers at the factory.
The plant belongs to the José Cuervo company, according to one of the photographs released by the authorities, which showed the brand on one of the affected warehouses.
Emergency services had evacuated the area as a precaution, but residents were able to return to their homes before midnight. Authorities were still working on clearing and cooling the affected area.
There were four containers with a capacity of 219,000 litres in the factory, two of which collapsed, explained Victor Hugo Roldán, director of Civil Protection.
While waiting for the experts investigating the incident to be able to report the cause, Roldán said that the first indications pointed to the explosion being due to “a manoeuvre in the heat, we cannot determine what type of manoeuvre.”
The electrical infrastructure, which was restored hours later, was damaged and work was being done to ensure that no alcohol was being discharged into the municipal drainage system, the official added.
Tequila is located about 600 kilometers (375 miles) northwest of Mexico City in the state of Jalisco, near the Pacific coast, and extends to the foothills of the volcano of the same name and is surrounded by plantations of agave, the plant from which the famous liquor is produced.
The entire municipality, with about 40,000 inhabitants, revolves around the tequila production and the tourism that this generates.
Connect with the Voice of America! Subscribe to our channels Youtube, WhatsApp and to newsletter. Turn on notifications and follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Add Comment