Inferno at La Salina: 18 Injured as Fire Engulfs Venezuelan Oil Terminal

A fire at the La Salina oil terminal in Venezuela injured at least 18 people, including workers, neighbors, and firefighters. The blaze erupted during a storm and disrupted operations at the state-run facility. Efforts to control the fire included using foam, while nearby communities remained unaffected.

In a dramatic turn of events on Tuesday, a fire at the La Salina oil terminal in Venezuela left at least 18 individuals injured, encompassing workers, neighbors, and local firefighters. The incident unfolded early in the day amid a storm, as per sources familiar with the facility's operations.

The state-run PDVSA facility, near the city of Cabimas, has long been marred by deteriorating infrastructure, leading to frequent disruptions. Firefighters were seen battling the voracious flames, producing a towering plume of black smoke, using foam designed for oil-induced fires.

The chief of the Cabimas firefighters, Mufid Houmeidan, confirmed that the blaze began at a storage tank containing 75,000 barrels of oil. Despite the tank's structural collapse and explosion, nearby communities were deemed safe, and operations at the adjacent Bajo Grande terminal remained unaffected.

(With inputs from agencies.)