Pemex terminal in Veracruz hit by fire following lightning strike

A fire broke out at the Pajaritos storage and port services terminal in Veracruz, Mexico, on Wednesday, August 19. Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) confirmed that the incident was triggered by an electrical storm in the area.

The fire reportedly began around 5:50 p.m. when a lightning strike ignited the upper valve of a tank dome. Pemex stated that the affected structure was a tank that was out of operation, which mitigated the overall risk.

Emergency protocols were activated, and specialized personnel were deployed to manage the situation. While the fire caused columns of smoke and flames visible in social media videos, and led to the evacuation of the industrial zone, no injuries have been reported.