Dozens Killed in Deadly Tanker Explosion in Mexican Suburb

There has been a deadly explosion on a highway in Ecatepec, a Mexican Suburb, leading to the deaths of at least18 people and several injured, according to officials of the Citizens Safety Department.

The explosion occurred when the gas tanker crashed into another vehicle, leaving in its wake at least 30 damaged homes and 20 charred wreckage of cars, according to media reports.

Security forces, paramedics, and firefighters were at the scene of the incident. Emergency workers have started combing through the remains of the blast site, but authorities fear that the death toll could rise higher.

Officials say the driver of the tanker that exploded is receiving medical attention while under arrest at the hospital. The highway between Mexico City and Pachuca where the blast occurred has been shut down.

Most of the victims were residents in their improvised homes close to the highway, which points out a problem of constructing homes too close to the highways.

 
In recent years, there has been a series of accidents involving overloaded Mexican lorries or unsafely operated trucks. The accidents sparked a protest that forced the government to announce measures that would be taken to tighten inspections and reduce the maximum permitted weights for trucks last year.

USGS: Mexican Coast Hit by Earthquake

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), an earthquake of 5.9 magnitude hit central Mexico near the Pacific Coast on Sunday night.

The quake struck some miles southwest of Lazaro Cardenas in Michoacan state, more than 200 miles from Mexico City around 8:16pm. It was 46 miles deep and considered moderate, as reported by USGS.

A witness reported that residents in the capital briefly ran outdoors during the earthquake, as they could feel the tremors; while some neighborhoods in the area lost power, according to a preliminary report released by the federal electrical commission.

There have been no immediate reports of casualties or damages to properties. People in the capital have returned to their normal lives since the tremors stopped.

Post-Chavez Venezuela: Where Is This Political Crisis Heading?

“it is very difficult to have a very clear path of how to lead the situation today……we are under major threats from a regime that knows that they lost elections, and they are trying to stop the Venezuelans to gain power, to actually recover freedom and liberties, which is the purpose of the opposition.”                                         - Diego Arria, former Venezuelan representative to the United Nations

Since the death of four-time president and founder of the Fifth Republic Movement, Lt. Col. Hugo Chavez at the age of 58, the country of Venezuela has slowly sailed into a time of political crisis and civil unrest.

 

Chavez died in early March (5^th, to be precise) after a long battle with cancer. As soon as word of his death hit the world, long time rival and unsuccessful challenger, Capriles Henrique Radonski quickly flew back to Caracas, Venezuela, to announce that he would run again for president in the newly arranged election for Chavez’s replacement.

On April 14, Venezuelans went to the polls which were to decide who will succeed Chavez between Capriles and Chavez’s former minister & serving Vice President, Nicolas Maduro. Although, the battle between Capriles and Maduro was a fierce one, Venezuelans elected Maduro president. 

It was an interesting election, because Maduro had already been named by Chavez as his successor before his passing, and Capriles, who had supported a failed US-backed coup against Chavez some years ago, claimed to be a “Bolivarian” (after Simon Bolivar) and a better executor of Chavez’s legacy than Maduro.

No doubt, the winner of the April 14^th election was Chavez himself. Supporters of Venezuelan democracy will tell you that any day. The fact that his chosen successor was accepted even after his death only means that the people always wanted Chavez, not that they were forced or bribed to put him in power over the years. If Capriles had won, he would have reverted to his usual ideologies and removed anything that represented Chavez.

Only a few days later, the opposition began burning down health clinics obviously erected by Chavez, and invoking series of violent acts. Surely, these acts are most likely aimed at discrediting the present government (if not overthrow it). But, nobody is taking responsibility for the violence.

Now, Capriles is refusing to accept the results of the election, meaning Maduro’s legitimacy is in question. He has demanded a full recount and called for street protests. In turn, Maduro, who was only focused on pressing matters of public administration, has been forced to face the seemingly growing problem.

Diosdado Cabello, president of parliament, has blamed Capriles for the violence and deaths which followed his rejection of the Sunday’s electoral results. Aurora Morales, president of the Miranda parliament has warned Capriles to either resume his role as Governor of Miranda (which he temporarily evacuated to contest in the elections), or forfeit it.

We all know that Maduro is no Hugo Chavez, and he faces a tough opposition which may include the US government (they were at loggerheads with Chavez when he was alive). Can he acquire Chavez’s charisma, rhetorical bombast and ability to gain unexpected alliances to defuse the growing tension in the country?.

Will there be an end to the political crisis brewing in the country?

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