Death toll rises to 109 in Mexico pipeline explosion

MEXICO CITY - The number of people killed in a fuel pipeline explosion on Jan 18 in the central state of Hidalgo has risen to 109, the Mexican government said Friday.

The death toll was adjusted to 109 from the previous 102 reported Thursday night by the Hidalgo state government, said Minister of Public Health Jorge Alcocer.

In addition, 40 people remain hospitalized in different hospitals in the state of Mexico, Hidalgo state and Mexico City, added Alcocer during a press conference.

An additional three people have been transferred to a specialized burn hospital in Galveston, Texas in the United States.

The Mexican government said it has not ruled out the possibility of accepting assistance from international experts to help identify victims whose bodies are difficult to be identified.

The explosion and an ensuing blaze occurred at a pipeline spot in the community of San Primitivo in the municipality of Tlahuelilpan.

According to the local government, between 600 and 800 people gathered at the site to collect leaked fuel with containers when the explosion took place.

Authorities said that the pipeline leakage was illegally tapped by fuel thieves, a problem that cost the country some 3 billion U.S. dollars in 2018.