At 71, the number of victims from Mexico's oil pipeline blast

Prudimentary investigations suggest that the explosion had been a damage to the network by fuel thieves, the very section passing through the town of Tlahelpan of the state of Hidalgo.

Officials say dozens of people had tried to fill even containers, but unfortunately were involved in the flames of “ferri”. Tens of burnt bodies continue to remain on the scene, which is nevertheless surrounded by the cordon of security forces.

Locals say the new policy of President Andres Manuel López Obrador to crush oil thieves has created supply shortages in the market.

“All had come in search of any oil for their vehicles”, says farmer Isaiah Garcia for news agency “Reuters”. “There is no supply at all in the fuel stations”.

Among the 71 victims reported by State Governor Hidalgo Omar Fayad are three women and a 12-year-old child. Shocked relatives of the victims gathered immediately near the scene, once they suffered the tragedy.

Forensic experts have already photographed what's left of it, amid a backdrop of bodies and burning clothes, as well as scattered oil buckets.

Meanwhile, the state oil company, “Pemex”, has reacted, which explains that the fire has been caused by illegal fuel thefts passing into the pipeline pipeline. The thieves are believed to have pierced the pipeline in several places and, at the moment of the powerful explosion, saw a huge amount of liquid that “flew” into the air.

Some local residents have criticised security forces near the scene that have not warned people, or have not used even the force to force them to stay away from the pipeline flows.