An explosion has rocked Venezuela’s largest oil refinery, killing at least 19 people including a child.
Dozens more were injured in the blast at the Amuay facility in the west of the country.
It was believed to have been caused by gas leak.
Officials said there was no risk of further explosion at the facility, which was still on fire several hours later.
The refinery is one of the biggest in the world, producing some 645,000 barrels of oil per day.
The blast occurred after 1 a.m. when a gas leak created a cloud that ignited, the oil minister, Rafael Ramirez, said. Some nearby houses were damaged in the blast, he said.
“That gas generated a cloud that later exploded and has caused fires in at least two tanks of the refinery and surrounding areas,” Mr. Ramirez said on state television. “The blast wave was of a significant magnitude.”
Vice President Elias Jaua said on his Twitter account that the military had been deployed and that air ambulances had been sent to transport the wounded.
