Chavez mourns victims of refinery fire

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez talks to the media while visiting the Amuay refinery a day after an explosion in Punto Fijo in the Peninsula of Paraguana August 26, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

CARACAS, Venezuela - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Sunday mourned victims of a fire that swept through an oil refinery in the northwestern state of Falcon and killed 41 people.

Chavez, who arrived at the site of the accident, offered his sympathy to the bereaved families and called on local people to stay calm.

"I am very painful and full of regret," said Chavez.

A fire and a powerful explosion occurred early Saturday at the Amuay refinery, killing 41 people and injuring 48 others.

"I am trying to reach the nearest site, although the officers told me not to do it. I will risk myself to know the reasons of the death of a group of Venezuelans," said Chavez, who watched at a safe distance, as the two fuel tanks were still burning and firefighters were working to extinguish flames.

Chavez criticized some right-wing political groups for speculating about the cause of the accident in a bid to seek political advantage in the middle of a campaign for the Oct 7 election.

"They don't have any proof. They say it was a lack of maintenance, that there was a gas leak since days ago," Chavez said.

The Amuay refinery, 350 km from the capital Caracas, is part of the Paraguana Refinery Complex, which is the second largest oil refinery in the world and capable of producing 955,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

Venezuela is South America's biggest oil producer and the world's fifth biggest oil exporter.