The devastating explosion at the José Cuervo tequila factory in Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico, has claimed a sixth life, as rescue operations continue in the aftermath of the incident. The explosion, which occurred on Tuesday afternoon, July 23, 2024, was followed by a fire that damaged three containers, each holding approximately 219,000 liters of alcohol used in tequila production.On Wednesday morning, July 24, the body of the sixth victim was discovered in a retention pit in the container area during cleanup and debris removal operations. This grim discovery came alongside a new fire that broke out in the storage area of the factory, causing alarm among local residents. The fire department, along with the company’s internal fire brigade, quickly contained this secondary blaze, which reportedly involved cardboard materials.The cause of the initial explosion remains under investigation, but authorities believe it may have resulted from a combination of factors. José Alfonso Magallanes, the mayor of Tequila, suggested that workers welding a still, combined with an accumulation of gases, might have triggered the catastrophic event. The explosion caused significant damage, with one container reportedly being displaced by the force of the blast.In response to the tragedy, local authorities have suspended all tourist activities in the historic center of Tequila and canceled the International Tequila Day celebrations. The area around the factory remains cordoned off as investigators continue their work and monitor both waste and toxic levels to prevent further risks.José Cuervo, the company owning the affected La Rojeña factory, is cooperating fully with the authorities in the ongoing investigation. Initially, the victims were identified as José Cuervo employees, but it was later confirmed that they were subcontracted workers hired for maintenance tasks.As the community grapples with this tragedy, questions about safety measures in tequila production facilities are likely to arise. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers in industrial settings and the importance of rigorous safety protocols.
Key points
- The death toll from the José Cuervo tequila factory explosion in Tequila, Jalisco, has risen to six.
- A new fire broke out on Wednesday morning in the factory’s storage area, causing alarm but was quickly contained.
- The explosion is believed to have been caused by a combination of factors, including welding work and gas accumulation.
- Local authorities have suspended tourist activities and canceled International Tequila Day celebrations in response to the tragedy.
Contradictions👾There are slight discrepancies in the reported number of injured individuals, with some sources mentioning two injured while others report up to eight people with burns.
