Fire and explosion inside the Lázaro Cárdenas refinery in Minatitlán, Veracruz

A fire has broken out at a Pemex oil refinery in Minatitlan, a town in the Mexican state of Veracruz. Video from the scene shows a plume of black smoke as the facility is engulfed in flames. 7 casualties have been reported.

The incident occurred at the Petroleos Mexicano (Pemex) refinery, named after former Mexican president Lazaro Cardenas. Black smoke, flames and repeated explosions can be seen and heard in videos that made rounds on social media on Wednesday

Mexico’s safety, energy and environment regulator #ASEA reported that the blaze started in a gasoline transfer pump. The watchdog said that it would inspect the facility in wake of the fire to “verify security conditions.”