Mexico: Shock and Speculation after Blast in Pemex Headquarters · Global Voices
Elizabeth Rivera

At least 14 people died and 80 are injured are up until now, the result of a strong blast that shook the state-owned company Mexican Petroleum (Pemex) on Thursday January 31st, 2013 in Mexico City, as it was informed by the company's official Twitter account:
@pemex [es]: Lamentablemente se tienen confirmados al momento 14 personas fallecidas y 80 lesionadas
@pemex: Unfortunately, we have 14 persons confirmed dead and 80 injured
Some netizens, besides regretting the news, speculated on the true cause of the explosion. Like Think Mexican (@ThinkMexican), who pointed out on its Twitter account:
@ThinkMexican: Torre de #Pemex explosion comes days after@EPN responded to speculation his admin. sought to privatize Mexico's oil.http://ow.ly/1RJUGC
Or the journalist and writter Raúl Tortolero (@raultortolero1), who asked:
@raultortolero1 [es]: ¿Conoceremos con transparencia lo que pasó en #Pemex hoy, o sólo versiones a modo?
@raultortolero1: Will we know with transparency what happened in #Pemex today, or are we only going to hear made up versions?
While other like Ana (@AnaLargaespada) spoke about possible negligence:
@AnaLargaespada [es]: Instalaciones de #Pemex ya habían tenido 2 explosioneshttp://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/899965.html … (ver video). Eso me huele a mal manejo
@AnaLargaespada: #Pemex facilities had already had 2 explosions http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/899965.html … (watch video). This sounds to me like misshandling
And some others think it was the responsibility of the drug lords, like Jorge said (@TwytterMx):
@TwytterMx [es]: Explosion en oficinas principales d #Pemexal igual q la explosion en #reynosa son actos d terrorismo por parte del Narco! #atentado
@TwitterMx: The explosion at #Pemex headquarters same as the blast in #Reynosa are terrorist acts by drug gangs! #atendato (attack)
To which Huff Post Voices columnist Alejando Escalona (@alexoescalona) concluded:
@alexoescalona [es]: Me parece muy bien no especular que lo de Pemex fue atentado, pero tampoco hay que asumir que fue accidente. #PEMEX
@alexoescalona: I think it is good not to speculate if what happened in Pemex was an attack, but we shouldn't either asume it was an accident. #PEMEX
On the other hand, there were tasteless comments that many reacted to, like movie maker and columnist Mariano Bouchot (@marianobouchot), who disapproved the jokes on the subject:
@marianobouchot [es]: No entiendo ni justifico los chistes que se hacen alrededor de la tragedia. Lo ocurrido hoy en #Pemex no es chiste.
@marianobouchot: I don't understand nor justify the jokes around the tragedy. What happened today in #Pemex is not a jest.
There were also many netizens who spread useful information. Like, Fherb (@LFernando24) who tweeted:
@LFernandoo24 [es]: Ayuda por favor: Se necesitan donadores de sangre en hospital de Pemex Central Norte Azcapotzalco… #Pemex
@LFernandoo24: Help please: Blood donors needed at Pemex North Central Hospital in Azcapotzalco… #Pemex
And Maru Iniestra (@889Maru) shared a link with a report of the wounded:
@889Maru [es]: Pasen la voz… Reporte preliminar de heridos#Pemexhttp://www.presidencia.gob.mx/informacion-de-contingencia-de-pemex/ … Más información en @locatel_mx#LocatelInforma 56581111
@889Maru: Spread the word… Preliminary report of the wounded #Pemex http://www.presidencia.gob.mx/informacion-de-contingencia-de-pemex/ … More information in @locatel_mx #LocatelInforma (Locatel Informs) 5658111
While a great number of netizens offer their condolences to the families of those who lost their lives, as the economist and blogger Guillermo Barba (@memobarba):
@memobarba [es]: Es sin duda una gran desgracia la explosión ocurrida en la Torre de #Pemex. Mis condolencias para los familiares d las víctimas
@memobarba: There's no doubt this blast at the #Pemex Tower was a tragedy. My condolences to the victims’ families.
Pemex web page already a black ribbon as a mourning sign.
Airview of the explostion at Pemex Tower in Mexico City. Picture shared on Twitter by @mexboby
News are still developing as this post was published.