At least six people were reportedly injured after a powerful explosion followed by a fire struck at the refinery in Oaxaca, Mexico on Monday night, May 11. The blast took place at the Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) facility in Salina Cruz, according to local media reports. The loud explosion has shocked residents living near the refinery.
Videos surfaced on social media platforms show an explosion at the Ingeniero Antonio Dovalí Jaime refinery, followed by flames and a large cloud of smoke rising from the site.
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According to Manuel Alberto Maza, Director of Civil Protection for Oaxaca, the incident occurred at around 8:30 pm on Monday (Mexico local time) in the cooling tower of the Hydros II plant. Speaking to NMás, he said the initial report confirmed six people are injured, including three Pemex employees and three workers from a private company.
Salina Cruz Refinery Explosion Video
The injured people were identified as Pemex workers, two women and one man, all of whom suffered burns. Authorities said firefighters from the refinery managed to bring the blaze under control within 20 minutes, and there was no danger to nearby residential areas.
The Oaxaca state government, led by Governor Salomón Jara, said Civil Protection and Risk Management teams inspected nearby homes to assess possible structural damage and provide safety recommendations. Emergency and medical crews rush to the spot, and emergency response protocols are activated to assist residents if required. The government stated that it remained committed to supporting and protecting citizens.
The Salina Cruz refinery had witnessed another incident in January 2026, when a fire broke out in Unit 801. No injuries or infrastructure damage were reported in that case, and the fire was quickly contained by Pemex firefighters.