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| Why are there fuel shortages in Mexico? | Why are there fuel shortages in Mexico? |
| (17 days later) | |
| When thieves punctured a pipeline in the Mexican town of Tlahuelilpan, a geyser of high-octane gasoline was sent several metres into the air. | |
| More than 700 residents flocked to the scene to fill jerry cans. People spoke of a party atmosphere. | More than 700 residents flocked to the scene to fill jerry cans. People spoke of a party atmosphere. |
| Local petrol pumps had reportedly run dry, and people needed fuel for their cars. | Local petrol pumps had reportedly run dry, and people needed fuel for their cars. |
| But two hours later, at least 79 people lay dead after an explosion tore through the scene. | But two hours later, at least 79 people lay dead after an explosion tore through the scene. |
| Mexico is a big producer of oil, so how is it that people are dying rushing to gather fuel? | Mexico is a big producer of oil, so how is it that people are dying rushing to gather fuel? |
| The answer is that the explosion comes amid a major government crackdown on fuel theft. | The answer is that the explosion comes amid a major government crackdown on fuel theft. |
| While the public has been broadly supportive, it has led to supply issues in central Mexican states which are causing problems nationwide. | While the public has been broadly supportive, it has led to supply issues in central Mexican states which are causing problems nationwide. |
| What's caused the fuel problems? | What's caused the fuel problems? |
| Criminals known as huachicoleros have in recent years begun stealing from oil pipelines and selling fuel on the black market. | Criminals known as huachicoleros have in recent years begun stealing from oil pipelines and selling fuel on the black market. |
| A few litres of fuel are worth more than the daily minimum wage in Mexico. | A few litres of fuel are worth more than the daily minimum wage in Mexico. |
| Gangs reportedly made 12,581 illegal taps in the first 10 months of 2018, the Associated Press reports - about 42 a day. | Gangs reportedly made 12,581 illegal taps in the first 10 months of 2018, the Associated Press reports - about 42 a day. |
| Authorities estimate it costs Mexico more than $3 billion (£2.3bn) each year. | Authorities estimate it costs Mexico more than $3 billion (£2.3bn) each year. |
| Newly-elected President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, known popularly as Amlo, has vowed to crack down on fuel theft. | Newly-elected President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, known popularly as Amlo, has vowed to crack down on fuel theft. |
| He announced a new policy last month to shut off major pipelines until they can be properly protected from illegal tapping. | He announced a new policy last month to shut off major pipelines until they can be properly protected from illegal tapping. |
| But the closures have disrupted supplies as distribution shifts from pipelines to tanker trucks. | But the closures have disrupted supplies as distribution shifts from pipelines to tanker trucks. |
| State oil company Pemex has insisted there are no shortages in Mexico, but admits there have been problems delivering the fuel. | State oil company Pemex has insisted there are no shortages in Mexico, but admits there have been problems delivering the fuel. |
| "We will not back down from our fight against fuel theft, a crime that damages the national economy and affects every Mexican directly in their finances," the company said in a press release. | "We will not back down from our fight against fuel theft, a crime that damages the national economy and affects every Mexican directly in their finances," the company said in a press release. |
| President López Obrador has also stressed the problems are only a distribution issue. | President López Obrador has also stressed the problems are only a distribution issue. |
| "Even though it hurts a lot, we have to carry on with the plan to end fuel theft," he vowed after Friday's explosion. | "Even though it hurts a lot, we have to carry on with the plan to end fuel theft," he vowed after Friday's explosion. |
| How have people been affected? | How have people been affected? |
| People in the capital Mexico City and surrounding central states have faced massive queues. | People in the capital Mexico City and surrounding central states have faced massive queues. |
| Mexico City-based actress and singer Lorena Marcela Vignau Caballero told the BBC of the chaos when the policy began. | Mexico City-based actress and singer Lorena Marcela Vignau Caballero told the BBC of the chaos when the policy began. |
| "I panicked and filled up my tank the day they cut the pipes," she said, queuing for half an hour after midnight for petrol. | "I panicked and filled up my tank the day they cut the pipes," she said, queuing for half an hour after midnight for petrol. |
| Traffic was even worse than usual in the city as people rushed to buy fuel. | Traffic was even worse than usual in the city as people rushed to buy fuel. |
| "It was madness," she said. "[Since then] we've tried as best as we can to run our errands on foot and not to use the car unless it's super necessary." | "It was madness," she said. "[Since then] we've tried as best as we can to run our errands on foot and not to use the car unless it's super necessary." |
| Mayra Cisneros Omaña told the BBC her mother has been affected by the shortages in the city of Guanajuato in central Mexico. | Mayra Cisneros Omaña told the BBC her mother has been affected by the shortages in the city of Guanajuato in central Mexico. |
| "She wasn't able to attend her mother's funeral because it was impossible to get gas," Ms Cisneros Omaña said. | "She wasn't able to attend her mother's funeral because it was impossible to get gas," Ms Cisneros Omaña said. |
| In the days before, her mother had lined up for 10 hours to buy petrol for the short drive home after flying back to the city from Cancún. | In the days before, her mother had lined up for 10 hours to buy petrol for the short drive home after flying back to the city from Cancún. |
| "They bought lunch for a taxi driver in the queue because he had to push his cab the whole time," she said. | "They bought lunch for a taxi driver in the queue because he had to push his cab the whole time," she said. |
| "He didn't have a penny on him since he hadn't been able to work for a few days." | "He didn't have a penny on him since he hadn't been able to work for a few days." |
| What's been the reaction? | What's been the reaction? |
| Polls show that the public broadly supports the president's new fuel measures - even though they have caused supply issues. | Polls show that the public broadly supports the president's new fuel measures - even though they have caused supply issues. |
| But there have been some protests against the policy in affected states. | But there have been some protests against the policy in affected states. |
| The hashtag #DondeHayGasolina - meaning where is there petrol - has been trending on Twitter as Mexicans search for places to buy fuel. | The hashtag #DondeHayGasolina - meaning where is there petrol - has been trending on Twitter as Mexicans search for places to buy fuel. |
| People are also using city-specific tags like #gasolinaCDMX for the capital city, known in Spanish as Ciudad de Mexico or CDMX. | People are also using city-specific tags like #gasolinaCDMX for the capital city, known in Spanish as Ciudad de Mexico or CDMX. |
| Online, Mexicans have poked fun at the shortages. | Online, Mexicans have poked fun at the shortages. |
| A common meme posted on social media compares the country to Mad Max - a film series set in a dystopian future where gangs battle for scarce natural resources. | A common meme posted on social media compares the country to Mad Max - a film series set in a dystopian future where gangs battle for scarce natural resources. |
| "In the not too distant future in Mexico, we will give life to the famous film Mad Max," one said. | "In the not too distant future in Mexico, we will give life to the famous film Mad Max," one said. |
| Petrol stations have also tried to make light of the situation. | Petrol stations have also tried to make light of the situation. |
| One Twitter user posted a photo of a sign in a forecourt reading, "Don't blame us, you voted for AMLO". | One Twitter user posted a photo of a sign in a forecourt reading, "Don't blame us, you voted for AMLO". |
| And some Mexicans queuing for petrol were saved from the boredom by a mariachi band. | And some Mexicans queuing for petrol were saved from the boredom by a mariachi band. |
| The musicians entertained a line of customers in Morelia in the central state of Michoacán. | The musicians entertained a line of customers in Morelia in the central state of Michoacán. |