It was approximately 2:10 on Sunday afternoon. May 5, 2024when a black cloud covered much of the city of Culiacán. To the south of the state capital stood an imposing column of intense dark color. Which contrasted with the blue reflection of the sky, which looked clear. From the ground, a powerful fire fueled the gigantic column of smoke. The first news and messages that went viral they informed that one fuel pipe was burning on the “La Costerita” highway. It seemed hardly credible, due to the magnitude of the fire.
After a few days, it became known that The accident occurred at a fuel companywhere there were great hydrocarbon storage tanks. The deposits were consumed for more than five hours, which lasted the bonfire. Firefighters and civil protection workers worked intensively to try to put out the fire. The battle was intense and exhausting. Although there were no fatalities, the material damage was serious. The flames reached lots of used cars and auto parts that were quickly consumed.
To the visual and social impact of the fire, we had to add the ecological damage and air pollution that the city suffered. We all witnessed the damage, where it happened, but we know nothing about its origin, how did it happen? What civil protection measures did the fuel company operators fail to observe? Did the company comply with the characteristics and technical specifications for the storage and sale of diesel and gasoline, in terms of its design, construction, operation and maintenance?
That is, did the company operate with the specifications, parameters and technical requirements of industrial safety, operational safety, and environmental protection that must be met in the design, construction, operation and maintenance of service stations for the storage and sale of diesel and gasoline? ?, which marks the “Official Mexican STANDARD NOM-005-ASEA-2016, Design, construction, operation and maintenance of Service Stations for storage and sale of diesel and gasoline”, published in the Official Gazette of the Federation on November 7 of 2016.
What type of maneuvers were being carried out with the diesel? These are questions that still do not have answers. Just as the black cloud faded, so did the explanations disappear. It seems that an incident of these magnitudes would not generate the obligation for a response. Only silence, oblivion. Something unacceptable.
What risk assessment, prevention, mitigation and control processes did they have? Was it a maintenance (preventive or corrective), design or construction problem? It was a routine operation process, absence of safe practices, training in emergency situations. Obviously, as consumers we have a right to know about the operational security processes and practices that companies are observing (or omitting). Even if they are companies dedicated only to distribution. Their activities are carried out in society, in the city. We all have risks. Any act of negligence affects us. The lack of control and supervision of the authorities also concerns us.
What services are we receiving in the city? What is the quality of the products? What guarantees do we have of their quality and integrity? The risks are high, the consequences very serious, for health, safety, the environment. The black cloud over Culiacán may be a more serious symptom.
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