February 05, 2019 - 6:08 AM
MEXICO CITY - Mexican officials say the death toll from a Jan. 18 fire at an illegally tapped pipeline has risen to 126 after more people died of their injuries.
Sixty-eight people died at the scene in the town of Tlahuelilpan in the central state of Hidalgo. The fire erupted after residents gathered to collect gasoline from a leaking tap in a field and a geyser of gasoline ignited.
A total of 81 people were taken to hospitals. In the two weeks since the blast, 58 of them have died and two recovered and were released.
The government of Hidalgo state said Tuesday that 21 injured people remain in hospitals.
The government has launched an offensive against fuel thieves who drill almost 15,000 illegal taps into government pipelines each year.
News from © The Associated Press, 2019