Pemex Krem-1 well fire continues, affecting thousands in Veracruz

Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) has been fighting the Krem-1 well fire in the Las Choapas area of Veracruz for more than 140 days, making it the second‑longest uncontrolled well incident in Mexico after the 1979 Ixtoc‑1 blowout. The blaze has forced the evacuation of roughly 3,000 people in 20 nearby communities, with satellite images showing vegetation loss and water‑body degradation across an area of about 80 km².

Local residents report severe health symptoms, including respiratory irritation and skin itching, as rivers emit fuel odors and water temperatures rise. Livestock and crops have been lost, and families claim extensive property damage. Pemex’s Director General Juan Carlos Carpio Fragoso initially downplayed the situation, but the company now acknowledges the need for specialized measures such as drilling a relief well and plans to seal the well with new valves.

Pemex’s Social Responsibility manager César Raúl Ojeda Zubieta confirmed that the firm will assume responsibility for the damages and is maintaining a presence in the region to process compensation claims and coordinate with state authorities.