UPDATED 7/26/2024 with drone images, fatality count, and preliminary investigation findings
Two (2) of the factory’s 219,000-liter (57,850-gallon) tequila vats ruptured, triggering a fire in three (3) other tanks. One 500,000 liters (132,086 gallons) suffered a HIT and traveled nearly 700′, landing in a residential area.
The explosion within the plant killed seven (7) workers; four (4) were maintenance contractors, and two (3) were employees of the plant.
The explosion occurred during maintenance work, specifically hot work inside the tank that catastrophically failed and traveled 650′.
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Enrique Alfaro, the governor of Jalisco, commented that the investigations were ongoing, but stated preliminary that the explosion could have been caused by welding work without the necessary security measures. Source: CLICK HERE |
The GRAPHIC image below (Members Area) indicates an entry was taking place at the time of the explosion. It is unknown if this was an entrant or if he was the attendant, but we can see he is wearing a 5-point body harness and it appears he is tethered to what could be a retrieval device of some sort.
Members can view accident scene photos. WARNING! Images may be upsetting to some viewers.