Lightning caused a large-scale fire on Monday at a refinery in eastern Venezuela, without causing any casualties, authorities said that the disaster is now under control.
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“A flash of lightning fell on a water treatment basin at the refinery”, located by the sea in Puerto La Cruz, in the state of Anzoategui, Oil Minister Tareck El Aissami said on television. “As there are hydrocarbon residues in this basin, a fire broke out,” he explained.
According to Mr. El Aissami, the fire was important, but did not affect the refining facilities, which were evacuated.
According to an AFP journalist on the spot, a huge column of smoke rose into the sky and residents of nearby residential areas sought shelter.
On Twitter, the Deputy Minister for Civil Protection, Carlos Pérez Ampueda, said that 95% of the fire was under control.
The same refinery, which belongs to the public company PDVSA and can process up to 190,000 barrels per day, had already been affected on Saturday by a fire due to a fuel leak. The disaster had not made any victims there either.
Venezuela, which has the largest proven oil reserves in the world, produces about 700,000 barrels a day today, compared to 3.2 million in 2008. International sanctions, as well as years of divestment and lack of maintenance, explain this historically low level.