GUADALAJARA, MX - A series of devastating explosions have
struck a blue-collar neighborhood in Mexico's second largest
city and created a major state of disaster. According to
Radio Red Reporter Juan Sanchez, the Reforma section in the
Southeast area of the city of 3 million people, looks like
"it had been bombed".
At least nine separate explosions were heard, starting at approximately 10:30 a.m. (11:30 p.m. CDT) local time. They were said to have ripped a jagged trench that runs for more than one (1) mile. The expanded trench was said to be contiguous with the city sewer system, and the open holes thought to be at least six meters deep and three meters across. In several locations, much larger craters of fifty (50) meters in diameter are evident with numerous vehicles buried or toppled into them. An eyewitness said that a bus was "swallowed up by the hole"; many victims were said to be rescued by bystanders from the bus.
Conflicting reports continue to be received from the area, as to the cause of the explosions, which is thought to have leveled more than 20 blocks of buildings. Guadalajara Fire Chief Jose Trinidad Lopez Rivas is reported to have blamed the explosions on "thousands of liters of gasoline" in the sewer systems prior to the explosions. A statement from the PEMEX, the Mexican state petroleum company, claimed that the explosions were caused by a leak of Hexane from a factory in the area.
Residents of the affected neighborhood had reportedly contacted both the Guadalajara police and fire departments for more than twenty-four (24) hours, complaining of both a "foul smell" and symptoms of nausea and "eye and throat stinging" as the result of gas fumes coming from sewer gratings in the area of the blast. According to eyewitnesses, a firefighter was seen removing manhole covers to allow the gas to dissipate earlier in the day on Wednesday. Reportedly, nothing else was done regarding the complaints.
Hexane, CH3(CH2)4CH3, is known to be a strong irritant that causes light-headedness, nausea, headache, with irritated eyes and nose. Hexane can be toxic by inhalation, ingestion, or absorption through the skin. It is NOT soluble in water. It is extremely flammable with a flash point of -7 degrees (F). That is the temperature at which it will ignite with contact with any spark or open flame. Hexane is described by hazardous material's text books as having a "mild gasoline- like" smell.
Hexane is described by experienced emergency responders as being "extremely volatile". At least one Chicago emergency analyst said that eyewitness statements pointed to the likelihood that the substance involved was Hexane rather than gasoline, due to the signs, symptoms, and characteristics described by witnesses. He pointed out, however, that Pemex has a history of involvement in past explosions in Mexico and that they were found at fault in a 1984 explosion in Ixhuatepec, MX that killed more than 500 people. According to analysts from the Emergency Response & Research Institute of Chicago, a chemical test could answer the question of which substance was involved fairly quickly.
A massive rescue effort was begun the Mexican Government. Defense Minister Javier del Real said that he had sent 400 military troops to assist in security and coordination of the rescue. Bystanders and relatives of victims were said to have been digging in the rubble of more than 1,000 buildings damaged by the blasts, since shortly after it had first occurred. All available police and fire department members from many miles around were said to be participating. In all, more than 700 rescuers have been sent to the scene.
Agustin Navarro of the Guadalajara Red Cross said that as many as 170 people were confirmed dead and as many as 500 others were known to be injured. Ricardo Jiminez, an official with the state Civil Defense agency, is quoted as saying that the official death toll is expected to rise as rescue efforts continue. According to Jimenez, "hundreds of people are missing". President Carlos Salinas de Gortari, who was said to be enroute to Guadalajara to inspect the disaster, ordered additional rescue teams, dog handlers search teams, and earth moving equipment to the scene of the tragedy.
Red Cross officials say that all available hospital beds have been filled and that local soccer stadiums are being used as make-shift relocation and treatment areas. Late Wednesday, Red Cross officials in Juarez, Mexico issued a plea for medical supplies, food, blood and plasma for the disaster victims. Eloy Sanchez, Chief of Transportation for the Cruz Roja (Red Cross), said that he had mobilized ambulances, medical personnel, and volunteers and that they were standing by to be sent to the scene. U.S. Government and State Department officials said, however, that no official request had been made of them for rescue or other assistance by the Mexican Government.
Rescue efforts were said to be continuing at a "fevered pitch" at the time of this report. More than 100 buildings were known to be collapsed, with reports of people still trapped in many of them. Hundreds of civilians and military rescuers were seen using picks, shovels, and their barehands in an attempt to rescue friends and relatives. Undoubtedly, the death toll will rise. Everyone continues to dig and hope.
-30-
(c) EmergencyNet NEWS Service, 1992
Emergency Response & Research Institute
6348 N. Milwaukee Ave.,#312, Chicago, IL 60646
(312) 631-1101 - Voice/messages
(312) 631-3467 - Computer/Modem/E-Mail-EMERGENCY BBS-24Hrs.