# Pemex closes Krem-1 well fire; remediation continues > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/pemex-krem-1-well-fire > Updated: 2026-08-11T17:36:58.000Z. Sources: 34. Developments: 8. Pemex’s effort to seal the March 5 Krem-1 exploratory well in Las Choapas, Veracruz, has progressed from containment to full technical closure. On 5 June the company announced a two-week plan to extinguish the blaze, mobilising supplies, building containment pits and maintaining continuous environmental monitoring while a mobile medical unit continued serving nearby villages. A confidential petition filed on 9 June with the NAFTA-era Commission for Environmental Cooperation triggered a review of the incident; Pemex pledged compensation, five new health clinics and a 26-km road-paving project costing over 200 million pesos. Community leaders reported ongoing fumes, health discomfort and damage to crops and livestock. By 1 July Pemex reported that pollutant levels remained below legal limits, temperature and noise had normalised beyond 200 m and 300 m respectively, and runoff into streams had markedly decreased. Mobile medical units continued daily primary-care visits and no intoxication cases were recorded. A 31 July update noted persistent health worries, wildlife declines and satellite estimates of roughly 300 million m³ of gas flared between March and July – about half of Mexico’s annual household consumption. President Claudia Sheinbaum repeatedly demanded updates. On 2 August Pemex announced the technical closure of the Krem-1 fire after about 150 days, launching an integrated remediation programme: mobile medical units for more than 45 communities, new school furniture, a health house in the Benito Juárez ejido, equipped health units in El Remolino and Linda Vista, completion of the 26-km road, delivery of 1,000 tons of concrete, a Vactor desilting unit and a 10,000-liter water tank, and ongoing damage-mapping. An estimated 3,240 people in 29 localities within a 10-km radius were potentially exposed during the incident. Following the closure, residents in 29 communities continue to face health and economic crises. ## Claims - Pemex achieved technical closure of the Krem-1 exploratory well in Las Choapas, Veracruz, ending surface flow. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Pemex will continue an integrated environmental remediation program, including mobile medical units for over 45 communities. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Pemex delivered 1,000 tons of concrete, a Vactor desilting unit, and a 10,000‑liter water tank to the municipality of Las Choapas. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Pemex will pave 26 km of road connecting the Río Playas and El Remolino communities with hot asphalt. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Pemex provided new school furniture to schools in Las Choapas. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Pemex is constructing a health house in the Benito Juárez ejido and equipping health units in El Remolino and Linda Vista. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The fire at the Krem-1 well lasted about 150 days, starting around 5 March 2026. (single source) - Approximately 3,240 people in 29 localities within a 10‑km radius were potentially exposed to emissions from the Krem-1 incident. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-11: Las Choapas residents face health and economic crises after Krem-1 well fire Residents in Las Choapas, Mexico, face ongoing health and economic crises following a 150-day hydrocarbon fire at the Krem-1 well, affecting thousands of people and local agriculture. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/las-choapas-residents-face-health-and-economic-crises-after-krem-1-well-fire ### 2026-08-02: Pemex closes Krem-1 well fire in Las Choapas, Veracruz Pemex has technically closed the Krem-1 well fire in Las Choapas, Veracruz, ending a 150‑day blaze and will continue environmental remediation, medical aid, road paving and infrastructure support for affected ​ 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/pemex-closes-krem-1-well-fire-in-las-choapas-veracruz ### 2026-07-31: Pemex gas‑well fire near Las Choapas raises health and environmental concerns A fire at Pemex's Krem‑1 gas well near Las Choapas continues to burn, prompting health, livestock and wildlife worries, while authorities report no poisoning cases but note extensive gas flaring. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/pemex-gaswell-fire-near-las-choapas-raises-health-and-environmental-concerns ### 2026-07-23: Pemex Krem-1 well fire continues, affecting thousands in Veracruz Pemex's Krem-1 well fire in Veracruz has burned over 140 days, harming thousands, damaging the environment, and prompting the company to promise compensation and specialized control measures. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/pemex-krem-1-well-fire-continues-affecting-thousands-in-veracruz ### 2026-07-18: Pemex intensifies efforts to seal Krem-1 well in Las Choapas, Veracruz Pemex works to seal the Krem-1 well in Las Choapas after a March 2026 explosion, citing no critical gas levels while locals report health and environmental damage; mobile clinics serve 42 nearby communities. 11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/pemexs-krem-1-well-leak-in-veracruz-escalates-health-and-environmental-concerns ### 2026-07-01: Pemex continues response to Krem-1 well fire in Veracruz, Mexico Pemex says work to control the March 5 Krem-1 well fire in Veracruz continues, with emissions, temperature and noise monitoring, containment dikes installed, mobile medical units operating and no reported intox 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/pemex-continues-response-to-krem-1-well-fire-in-veracruz-mexico ### 2026-06-18: Pemex’s Krem-1 well fire triggers NAFTA‑era environmental commission review The Krem-1 well fire in Veracruz, burning since March, prompted a confidential petition to the US‑Mexico‑Canada environmental commission; Pemex pledged compensation, clinics and road repairs amid community‑sust 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/pemexs-krem-1-well-fire-triggers-naftaera-environmental-commission-review ### 2026-06-05: Pemex to extinguish Las Choapas well fire within two weeks Pemex will start two‑week operations to fully extinguish the three‑month‑old Krem‑1 well fire in Las Choapas, Veracruz, with safety and environmental measures in place. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/pemex-to-extinguish-las-choapas-well-fire-within-two-weeks --- Cite as: Pemex closes Krem-1 well fire; remediation continues. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/pemex-krem-1-well-fire