Pemex Reports Fire at Pajaritos Terminal Following Lightning Storm, No Injuries

Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) reported that a lightning storm triggered a fire on August 19, 2026, at the upper valve of the dome of an out-of-service tank at the Pajaritos Storage and Port Services Terminal in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz. The incident, recorded at approximately 17:50 hours on Wednesday, was contained with no injuries.

According to Infobae, specialized personnel immediately activated the company's security and emergency response protocols. Reforma reported the incident at the Pajaritos complex and its meteorological cause, confirming the company's account of the fire's origin. The Pajaritos complex, part of Pemex's logistics network and the Coatzacoalcos petrochemical hub, handles the receipt, storage, and dispatch of crude oil, refined products, and petrochemicals. The logistics corridor in southern Veracruz connects Gulf basin production and imports with markets in central Mexico, making these terminals a critical node for fuel supply. The incident falls within the Atlantic storm season, which intensifies between August and November.

As a precautionary measure, Pemex evacuated personnel from the facility, according to the company's statement, and maintained containment operations with Firefighting and Industrial Safety brigades, supported by teams from other work centers in the area and by Municipal Civil Protection of Coatzacoalcos. La Jornada reported on Friday that specialized personnel continued applying nitrogen and maintaining the cooling of the tank through water curtains, with gradual and controlled maneuvers, and that the situation was under control. Pemex did not detail any operational disruptions to the complex or timelines for resuming the tank's operation. The incident renews scrutiny of the resilience of Gulf of Mexico hydrocarbon storage terminals against severe weather events.

The incident was contained without casualties and brought under control. The Atlantic storm season, active through November, continues over the Gulf of Mexico; the next milestone will be Pemex's report on the tank's status and the resumption of terminal operations.

This article was drafted with artificial intelligence assistance from verified sources and reviewed by a human editor prior to publication.