A strong explosion occurred this Monday, November 11, at the Muscar Gas Complex, located in Punta de Mata, in the state of Monagas, belonging to the state company Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) generated a fire that is being controlled.
The president of the Venezuelan state oil company, Héctor Obregón Pérez, reported in a statement that five people were injured as a result of the fire in the 26 Muscar-Soto gas pipeline.
Pérez explained in the statement that a multidisciplinary security team is working, adhering to the protocols, to protect the integrity of the workers and inhabitants of the nearby communities.
Regarding the injured, it was announced that specialized medical care was guaranteed and that they are working to control the eventuality in order to determine the circumstances of the incident, “which outline it as an attack on the industry.”
Preventive closure
A preventive closure was carried out on the roads near the plant, as a safety measure, in the presence of the fire and the toxic cloud that could have arisen as a result of the explosion.
Local authorities urged the population to remain calm and follow evacuation instructions in surrounding areas to avoid greater risks.
The Muscar plant is located north of Monagas, in the Ezequiel Zamora municipality, and is located between the Musipán and Carito oil fields. This is a key facility in the country’s gas production.