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Mexico City explosion at Pemex, state oil giant Mexico City blast at Pemex, state oil giant, kills 14
(35 minutes later)
An explosion has rocked the headquarters of state oil company Pemex in Mexico City, leaving at least 22 people wounded, reports say. At least 14 people have died after an explosion rocked the headquarters of state oil company Pemex in Mexico City, officials say.
"An explosion took place in the B2 building of the administrative centre," href="https://twitter.com/pemex" title="Pemex Twitter" > Pemex said in a message on Twitter. Another 80 were wounded in the blast, State Interior Secretary Miguel Angel Osorio Chong said.
"There are injuries and damage on the ground floor and mezzanine," it said. The cause of the blast is not known. Emergency services are searching for people trapped in the rubble, the BBC's Will Grant reports from the scene.
Last September, 30 people died in an explosion at a Pemex gas plant in northern Mexico.Last September, 30 people died in an explosion at a Pemex gas plant in northern Mexico.
Television pictures showed rubble from the blast spread out on to the street in front of the building, and Red Cross ambulances on the scene attending to the injured, the BBC's Will Grant reports from Mexico City. The 54-floor Pemex Executive Tower, which houses hundreds of employees, is located in a busy commercial area of Mexico City.
At this stage there is no official explanation for the explosion, our correspondent adds. Television pictures showed rubble from the blast spread out on to the street in front of the building, and Red Cross ambulances on the scene attending to the injured, our correspondent in Mexico City reports.
Earlier on Thursday, the company had reported problems with the electricity in the building. Police have cordoned off the streets surrounding the building.
At this stage there is no official explanation for the explosion, our correspondent says.
TrappedTrapped
At least 22 people were injured in the explosion at the 54-floor Pemex Executive Tower, a spokesman for the city's Civil Protection Agency said. Relatives of employees were gathering outside the building in search of information about their loved ones, local media report.
Some people were trapped in the basement after the blast, the official is quoted as saying. Some are said to have tried to reach employees on their mobile phones but had no reply.
Images of the blast posted on Twitter showed large clouds of smoke billowing from the building. "The place shook, we lost power and suddenly there was debris everywhere. Colleagues were helping us out of the building," eye witness Cristian Obele said.
President Henrique Pena Nieto and Mexico City Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera headed to the scene of the accident, local media report. Images of the blast posted on Twitter revealed large clouds of smoke billowing from the building. TV footage showed people being transported from the scene by helicopters.
President Enrique Pena Nieto and Mexico City Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera headed to the scene of the accident.
Mr Nieto said Pemex rescue and security teams were working alongside city authorities to help the injured.
"I am deeply sorry for the deaths of our fellow workers at Pemex. My condolences to their relatives," Mr Nieto said on Twitter.
"At the moment, the priority is to help the injured and protect the physical safety of those who work there."
The president said he has ordered an investigation into the causes of the blast.
Earlier on Thursday, Pemex had reported problems with the electricity in the building in a message on Twitter.
It later confirmed that an explosion had taken place "in the B2 building of the administrative centre".
"There are injuries and damage on the ground floor and mezzanine," it said on Twitter.
Plaster had fallen from the ceiling of the basement and the situation was "delicate", another spokesman for local emergency services was quoted by the Reuters news agency.Plaster had fallen from the ceiling of the basement and the situation was "delicate", another spokesman for local emergency services was quoted by the Reuters news agency.
Pemex has experienced a number of accidents in recent years.Pemex has experienced a number of accidents in recent years.
Last September's deadly blast at a gas plant near the northern town of Reynosa is thought to have been caused by a build-up of gas.Last September's deadly blast at a gas plant near the northern town of Reynosa is thought to have been caused by a build-up of gas.
Are you in Mexico City? Did you witness the explosion at the Pemex headquarters? Please use the form below to contact us.Are you in Mexico City? Did you witness the explosion at the Pemex headquarters? Please use the form below to contact us.
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