Explosion rocks Mexican facility

 A huge explosion at a petrochemical plant
near the Mexican port of Coatzacoalcos Wednesday
killed three people, injured more than 100 and
prompted evacuations in the area, authorities say.
The blast at the Petroquimica Mexicana de Vinilo
(PMV) facility in the southern state of Veracruz sent
large plumes of dark smoke and toxic fumes across
the region.
Veracruz Governor Javier Duarte told CNN affiliate
Televisa that the blast was felt about 10 kilometers
(six miles) away. Emergency protocols were put in
place, with a number of surrounding municipalities
evacuated and schools closed in others, officials
said.
PMV is a joint venture between Mexican
petrochemicals consortium Mexichem and state oil
firm Pemex.
Pemex said that 136 plant workers were injured in
the explosion, of whom 88 remained hospitalized. A
government Twitter account showed photos of plant
workers being evacuated from the facility in a
convoy.
Pemex said on its Twitter account that the fire at the
plant had been brought under control by early
Wednesday evening, and that the plume of toxic
smoke was dissipating quickly.
Veracruz Government spokesman Raul Gutierrez told
CNN that emergency personnel were collaborating
with Pemex to evaluate the extent of the damage
from the explosion.
It's not clear what caused the blast.
The blast was only the latest of several incidents
reported at facilities linked to the Mexican state oil
company in recent years.
In 2013, at least 37 people were killed in a blast at
Pemex's headquarters in Mexico City, and a year
earlier, dozens were killed in a fire at a Pemex gas
facility in the state of Tamaulipas.