The Puerto Rican
Diaspora (book) Migrating and building communities in the U.S.A.
From Hawai'i in 1900 to New England—the Puerto Rican diaspora grows in the
States...more than in Puerto Rico itself.
Don Jibaro: "I own this book. It makes me churn.
Refinery Explodes in Cataño
CATANO, Puerto Rico — gasoline facility Friday rocked a
neighborhood outside Puerto Rico's capital, causing minor
injuries and forcing evacuations as firefighters raced to
prevent additional blasts.
Several columns of black smoke and flames were rising from
the Caribbean Petroleum Corp., a gasoline warehouse and
distribution center on San Juan's bay that owns the Gulf
brand in this U.S. Caribbean territory. FBI agents on the
scene were among those investigating what caused the blast,
which struck around 12:30 a.m. (0430 GMT), according to
police chief Jose Figueroa Sancha.
A police helicopter that flew over the area confirmed that
11 of more than 30 tanks had exploded, Figueroa Sancha said.
Firefighters were planning to chill the remaining tanks in
an effort to keep them from exploding. Dozens of fuel trucks
were also being moved from the area.
"This is about containment," firefighter Brenda Rodriguez
said.
The fuel company told authorities that all of its employees
who were at the plant are safe, Rodriguez said.
Some people who were driving through the area were injured
when the explosion shattered their car windows. One of them,
truck driver Alredro Nevares, had cuts on his face from a
broken windshield, according to his son Luis.
Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen
said the agency put a temporary flight restriction in place
over the area because of smoke.
The flames, which could be seen from miles away, intensified
several hours after the explosion and Figueroa Sancha said
it would likely take several days to put out the fire.
Authorities were evacuating people from communities downwind
from the thick smoke. About 80 people living in a secure
facility for Justice Department witnesses were also moved
elsewhere, according to attorney general Antonio Sagardia.
Police cars were clearing the way for ambulances and fire
trucks arriving on the scene in Catano, across the bay from
San Juan, where the blast tore up a highway. Gov. Luis
Fortuno urged islanders to stay away from the site to keep
the access clear and nearby schools announced they would be
closed Friday.
Environmental authorities urged nearby residents to keep
their windows shut to avoid potentially dangerous
smoke.
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