Blast at Jose Cuervo Tequila distillery kills six

A massive explosion at the Jose Cuervo Tequila factory in central Mexico has killed at least six people, it has been reported.

The deaths and three injuries to other individuals occurred after a boiler tank exploded at the plant, which is located in the city of Tequila, near Guadalajara, which is often popular with tourists due to its associate with agave producers and the associated spirit.

A surveillance video shows a massive fireball on Tuesday afternoon, after a tank was propelled into the air.

Explosión en la planta de fabricación de José Cuervo en Tequila, Jalsco.
Hasta el momento y de forma extraoficial se habla dedos personas que habrían perdido la vida y al menos otras 5 con lesiones. pic.twitter.com/GoA7QIcJtu

— Monica Garza (@monicagarzag) July 24, 2024

It is believed that the explosion impacted four 57,850-gallon vats of tequila, according to the state director of civil protection.

According to reports, the boiler tank was being welded by workers from a third-party contractor when it exploded, landing in an empty lot adjacent to the factory.

Security

A statement from the Tequila maker said: “Casa Cuervo reiterates that the safety and integrity of its collaborators, neighbours and visitors are our priority, which is why the strict security protocols will be reinforced in each of our facilities.”

Several Tequila distilleries have temporarily suspended service following the incident.

The mayor of the city, Alfonso Magalllanes, said that state civil defence engineers would be assessing the damage, which it is also believed could have spilled into a nearby river.

Further blast

Another blast was reported yesterday (24 July) but there were no injuries reported.

Firefighters were able to extinguish the subsequent fire of the container, before the flames could reach a second container which held around 200,000 litres of Tequila.

Jalisco Civil Defense said in a statement: “It is important to emphasize that local authorities continue to monitor the situation and work together to guarantee the safety of the community and prevent future incidents.”