Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico explosion claims first fatality

By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.

An early Sunday morning explosion at approximately 7:30 A.M. on August 31, 2014, at the Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico Mexican Customs office near the City of Eagle Pass International Bridge No. 2, also known as the Camino Real International Bridge, shocked Mexican Customs workers and citizens and caused serious injuries to at least six persons who were either inside the building or nearby when it exploded.

Mexican authorities have reported that at least one Mexican Customs Inspector, Ana Griselda Vazquez Duque, age 28, passed away at the Mexican Social Security Hospital in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico from the injuries she sustained in the explosion.

Mexico’s President Enrique Pena Nieto offered the family of the deceased Mexican Customs Inspector his condolences through his twitter account on Sunday, August 31st. President Pena Nieto also wished the families of the other injured persons from the blast a speedy recovery of their loved ones.

At least two of the injured persons were scheduled to be flown to Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico for further treatment of their serious injuries. Many of the blast victims sustained severe third degree burns, which Piedras Negras, Coahuila lacks specialized physicians and facilities to treat these severe burn victims.

According to Mexican press reports, the early Sunday morning explosion may have been caused by a gas leak inside the Mexican Customs Office in Piedras Negras, Coahuila adjacent to the Eagle Pass International Bridge No. 2.

The surprised blast caused Mexican and American authorities to temporarily close Eagle Pass International Bridge No. 2 to traffic and commerce. The international bridge was closed at approximately 8 A.M. and reopened at 11 P.M. Reports are that the Eagle Pass International Bridge No. 2 was reopened to U.S.-Mexico traffic and commerce after 15 hours.

Mexican authorities are investigating the early Sunday morning explosion to determine what caused it and the overall incident.