This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-19383603#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Venezuela: Chavez orders Amuay refinery blast probe | Venezuela: Chavez orders Amuay refinery blast probe |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has ordered an urgent investigation to find the cause of a huge explosion at the country's biggest oil refinery. | Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has ordered an urgent investigation to find the cause of a huge explosion at the country's biggest oil refinery. |
| The death toll after the blast at the Amuay plant in Falcon state, in the north-west of the country, has now risen to 39, with more than 80 others injured. | |
| Mr Chavez declared three days of national mourning. | Mr Chavez declared three days of national mourning. |
| Earlier, Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez said a gas leak had caused the blast. | Earlier, Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez said a gas leak had caused the blast. |
| Mr Chavez said the tragedy had touched all families in the country. | Mr Chavez said the tragedy had touched all families in the country. |
| "I want to send out to the families of those who died, civilians and military, all our pain, mine, that of all my family, everyone in the national government and the people of Venezuela," he said. | "I want to send out to the families of those who died, civilians and military, all our pain, mine, that of all my family, everyone in the national government and the people of Venezuela," he said. |
| "It has been decided to have three days of mourning, national mourning because this affects everyone in the big family of Venezuela." | "It has been decided to have three days of mourning, national mourning because this affects everyone in the big family of Venezuela." |
| Venezuelan Vice-President Elias Jaua said 18 of the victims were members of the National Guard stationed at the plant. | Venezuelan Vice-President Elias Jaua said 18 of the victims were members of the National Guard stationed at the plant. |
| Another 15 were civilians, and six bodies remain unidentified, he said. | Another 15 were civilians, and six bodies remain unidentified, he said. |
| Venezuelan authorities say the worst is over and the fire is now under control. | Venezuelan authorities say the worst is over and the fire is now under control. |
| Amuay, on the Paraguana peninsula, is part of the Paraguana Refinery Complex, which also includes the Cardon refinery. | Amuay, on the Paraguana peninsula, is part of the Paraguana Refinery Complex, which also includes the Cardon refinery. |
| It is one of the biggest refinery complexes in the world with an overall capacity of 955,000 barrels per day, Reuters news agency notes. | It is one of the biggest refinery complexes in the world with an overall capacity of 955,000 barrels per day, Reuters news agency notes. |
| The accident has halted operations at the refinery, but Mr Ramirez said he expected production to be resumed by Monday. | The accident has halted operations at the refinery, but Mr Ramirez said he expected production to be resumed by Monday. |
| Mr Ramirez said that Venezuela had enough fuel supplies to guarantee continued exports and domestic supply. | Mr Ramirez said that Venezuela had enough fuel supplies to guarantee continued exports and domestic supply. |
| Gas leak | Gas leak |
| The blast occurred at 01:11 (05:41 GMT) on Saturday. | The blast occurred at 01:11 (05:41 GMT) on Saturday. |
| It unleashed a huge fire that destroyed two fuel tanks and stopped production at the plant. | It unleashed a huge fire that destroyed two fuel tanks and stopped production at the plant. |
| "The gas cloud exploded, igniting at least two storage tanks and other facilities at the refinery," the energy minister told state TV. | "The gas cloud exploded, igniting at least two storage tanks and other facilities at the refinery," the energy minister told state TV. |
| "It was a significant explosion, there is appreciable damage to infrastructure and to houses opposite the refinery," said Mr Ramirez. | "It was a significant explosion, there is appreciable damage to infrastructure and to houses opposite the refinery," said Mr Ramirez. |
| Falcon State Governor Stella Lugo said nearby houses had been damaged by the blast. | Falcon State Governor Stella Lugo said nearby houses had been damaged by the blast. |
| Local resident Nelly da Lugo said it would be too dangerous for her family to remain in the area: | Local resident Nelly da Lugo said it would be too dangerous for her family to remain in the area: |
| "PDVSA (Venezuela's government-run oil company) should buy all of these houses and get us out of this community because we are at a very high risk here." | "PDVSA (Venezuela's government-run oil company) should buy all of these houses and get us out of this community because we are at a very high risk here." |
| Venezuela has the world's biggest certified oil reserves. | Venezuela has the world's biggest certified oil reserves. |
| But critics blame under investment by the state-controlled oil company for a decline in production and safety standards. | But critics blame under investment by the state-controlled oil company for a decline in production and safety standards. |
| Refineries have suffered from a long list of problems including power failures and accidents. | Refineries have suffered from a long list of problems including power failures and accidents. |