Mexico Pipeline Explosion Puts New Focus on Government Crackdown on Fuel Theft

Over 70 people lost their lives in Mexico after a gasoline pipeline blast on Jan. 19.

Family members of a victim cry when recognizing the body after an explosion in a pipeline belonging to Mexican oil company PEMEX on Jan. 19, 2019 in Tlahuelilpan, Mexico. Hector Vivas/Getty Images

MEXICO CITY—More than 70 people were killed after a gasoline pipeline blast in central Mexico on Jan. 19. The explosion happened after fuel thieves punctured a hole in the Tula-Tuxpan pipeline and crowds of people came to fill plastic containers with fuel.

The incident has put new focus on the government’s crackdown on fuel theft.