Pemex explosion caused by methane gas

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/05/pemex-explosion-caused-methane-gas

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A deadly blast that killed at least 37 people at Mexican state oil monopoly Pemex's headquarters in Mexico City was caused by a build-up of gas, the government has said on Monday.

The attorney general, Jesus Murillo, said no trace of explosives was found at the site of the disaster, the latest in a string of safety lapses to hit the oil monopoly. President Enrique Pena Nieto is seeking to push through a major overhaul of Pemex.<br /> <br />"We have been able to determine that the explosion was caused by an accumulation of gas in the basements of the building," Murillo said. The was believed to be methane.<br /> <br />"This caused a defect in the structure of the floors, which first were pushed upward, and then fell, which was the main cause of death in the building," he said.<br /> <br />The blast last Thursday afternoon in a building at the Pemex complex in downtown Mexico City prompted speculation of sabotage as well as renewed criticism of the oil company's safety record.<br /> <br />For years a source of national pride, Pemex has proven stubbornly resistant to change. The company has become a touchstone for Mexico's capacity for economic reform since oil output began to lag the performance of other major producers.