VENEZUELA – Oil Rig Explosion in Venezuela Injures at Least 17 Workers

At least 17 workers were injured after an explosion struck the Colven 02 oil rig in Apure State, Venezuela, late Sunday. The facility is operated by the state-owned oil company PDVSA, and two of the injured reportedly sustained severe burns, according to three sources on Monday.

Following the blast, some injured workers were transported to Colombia for specialized medical treatment, while others were taken to the nearby town of Guasdualito. Photos and videos circulating on social media showed towering flames and thick black smoke rising from the site.

The explosion is the latest in a series of incidents involving PDVSA’s aging oil infrastructure. Fires, equipment failures, and operational disruptions have become increasingly common, affecting both oil production and refining. Last month, a similar explosion at a gas processing plant on Lake Maracaibo resulted in the death of one worker.

PDVSA has not responded to requests for comment on the incident. Meanwhile, the company continues efforts to restore operations impacted by two deadly earthquakes last week, including work at the El Palito refinery in Carabobo State, which has a refining capacity of 146,000 barrels per day.

Photo credit: PDVSA. All rights reserved.