The President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, reported new details about the fire registered near the Olmeca refinery in Dos Bocas, Tabasco, which resulted in fatalities and is already being investigated by federal authorities. During her morning conference on Friday, April 10, 2026, the head of state emphasized that the fire occurred outside the refinery, specifically in an area near the port, which is key to understanding the scope of the incident. The fire occurred outside the refinery and was controlled within hours. Sheinbaum explained that the fire originated in a coke storage area, a solid byproduct of the oil refining process. According to her statements, this material — similar to a 'petroleum powder' — is mainly used in the cement industry. 'The fire was outside the refinery's wall... it is probably the temperature at which the coke comes out of the coker,' she detailed. The fire was controlled in approximately two and a half hours, thanks to the rapid intervention of emergency teams from Petróleos Mexicanos, as well as the Secretariat of the Navy, the Secretariat of National Defense, and Civil Protection authorities. Regarding the fire at the Dos Bocas Refinery, President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that the cause 'is yet to be determined,' although it 'is probably the temperature at which the coke comes out.' She adds that the Olmeca refinery 'has no damage' and that there are no injured persons. Causes of the fire are being investigated and refinery damage is ruled out. Although the president acknowledged that there were fatalities, she indicated that the Attorney General's Office will be responsible for determining the precise causes of the fire and assigning responsibilities. Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) reported that the refinery remains safe and operational, with no impact on other process areas or risks to nearby communities. The general director of the oil company, Víctor Rodríguez Padilla, traveled to the complex located in Paraíso, Tabasco, to supervise the work and conduct a technical analysis to clarify the origin of the fire. This incident adds to other recent events in the Dos Bocas area, which has raised concerns about safety at the energy complex. Federal authorities are already conducting a Root Cause Analysis (RCA) to determine what caused the fire.
