Gas Plant Explosion Rocks Puerto Rico

11 Tanks Explode at Gulf Facility Outside San Juan; Early Probe Centers on Highway Graffiti: "Boom, Fire, RIP, Gulf"

(AP)  Updated at 2:51 p.m. EDT

Crews struggled to contain a huge, smoky fire at fuel storage facility outside Puerto Rico's capital Friday following an early morning explosion that knocked out windows and shook the ground in the U.S. territory.

A plume of inky black smoke loomed over the island, forcing the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration to divert plane traffic and keeping school children at home. Authorities warned that more tanks could explode before the fire is extinguished.

The cause of the explosion at the Caribbean Petroleum Corp. in the suburb of Bayamon was unknown.

Gov. Luis Fortuno said only one person has required treatment for smoke inhalation, and two others suffered minor injuries at the U.S. Army's Fort Buchanan base adjacent to the fuel plant, which supplies Gulf gas stations across the island.

Several drivers were also hurt when the explosion shattered glass in their cars, but firefighters said all the plant workers were safe.

Marcial Orlando Felix, the top local official for the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said a special team from the mainland would investigate the blast but would have to wait until the fire is out to enter the plant.

The 12:30 a.m. blast was the equivalent of a 2.8 magnitude earthquake, according to the Puerto Rico Seismic Network.

Police and FBI agents were also investigating graffiti that was found Friday after the blast in a highway tunnel in the capital with the message: "Boom, fire, RIP, Gulf."

"Everything is very preliminary at this point but obviously we're looking into the graffiti and it's a concern," Figueroa Sancho said.

Fortuno said 11 of the 40 fuel tanks were on fire at the plant, which includes a gasoline warehouse and distribution center on a bay across from the U.S. territory's capital. Caribbean Petroleum owns the Gulf brand in Puerto Rico.

Eighty-five firefighters with 20 fire trucks were working to contain the fire and chill the remaining tanks to prevent further explosions, according to Fortuno.

The flames, which could be seen from miles away, intensified several hours after the explosion and police chief Jose 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.

Environmental authorities urged nearby residents to keep their windows shut to avoid potentially dangerous smoke.

[machete001]

It is very sad Mr. Pagan that you refer to a beautyful island such as Puerto Rico and it's inhabitants the way you do, with such a degrating tone. Sir very respectfully, we are dependent because we have been force to be, and our lineage of blood may not be like you claim yours to be, but we are and have been very proud people, for the size of our island we have accomplished much more than any other latin american country a thousand times it's size, we have surpass trivial times and have survive and have been bless by God in many ways, why is it to you that if some of us desire to be independent that we might have ties with someone else?, are you suggesting that Puertorricans are to stupid to reason on their own?, that has been basically the thought of many mainland politicians since we were invaded in 1898. You also stated that Puertorricans are not obligated to served in the military, question, how old are you?, if you are old enough to know that an all volunteer military was established a little more than 30 years ago, so if are within that age range I would understand your ignorance, if not, well be your ouwn judge and live with your concience of believing what your retrograted mind wants to, I am an individual, I do not speak nor I intend to speak for the vast majority of Puertorricans, yes I have the mix of Taino,African and Spaniard and I'm very proud of it, I am also very convince that we could accomplish whatever our mind has set and that we could overcome any obstacle, I believe in the independence of my little island, if you do'nt that your perogrative and your way of thinking and very respectfully I dissagree with you, however I take responsability for my actions and I do not need no one else to be blame for what I do, in your comments you metiong Arabs, Venezuelan so on and so forth, again I'm an individual and their is a thousand or perhaps more individuals like me out there that share my feelings about Puerto Rico, the fact that I do'nt agree with you does not mean that because you think the way you think I would place the blame on someone, no sir, again, I am a very proud Jibaro, and if I have what I have it is not because someone gave it to me, I have earn it, including the computer that I am writting right now on, I could take care of my own I know how to work the land, and also feel that I am a very verse man, if you need the U.S. their malls,their supermarkets, and every else that makes you feel proud to be and american, well then good for you, me I like to cultivate yuca, guineos, platanos work the landtake a little for my self and then sell the rest so arrogant and ignorant fools who feel superior to me could eat because they are to proud to work the land, and then called me stupid because I could survived in any situation and persons like you depend on a dumb ass Jibaro like me. I hope you have a blessed day.

[machete001]

I really do not understand when someone speaks without having knowledge of the subject, but it really irritates me when a suppose to be Puertorrican speaks either out of ignorance or indiference. Puerto Rico is nothing more than a colony of the U.S., the commonwealth or estado libre asociado is nothing more than a glorify title, we have been used and abuse for 111 years, yes we get some benefits from the mainland, what crums they could spare, but how much blood have we spill for this so called freedom, does anybody here knows about the grito de Lares, or the masacre de Ponce, or the unjustfully imprisionment of Pedro Albizu Campos and the radiation experiments that took him to his grave, the target practices in Vieques, the political persecution of Boriquas that have thought of our own independence as an option, the degradation of our indosincracies, culture, traditions, our big brother to the north makes it sound like it has given all to our small piece of land and we have given nothing back, no sir we have given back a lot more than we have gotten and we have paid with humiliation and blood what you call liberation, and I call opresion, what you call freedom and I call force sumition, the latin american countries are waking up to the fallacies that have been force fed and Puerto Rico is not the exception.
Below links to some facts

Coño despierta Boriqua.....

http://www.puertorico-herald.org/issues/970319/q-and-a.html

http://books.google.com/books?id=6W7rYQvSK-AC&pg=PA27&lpg=PA27&dq=puerto+rico+%26+the+us+congress&source=bl&ots=2YCDSm2jC9&sig=PoE_-YN0APM9cJA63yBWTzbdDgY&hl=en&ei=jGfmSqD3CcPN8QbSnvWHBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CB8Q6AEwCTg8#v=onepage&q=puerto%20rico%20%26%20the%20us%20congress&f=false

http://books.google.com/books?id=te1cUiXUweYC&pg=PA14&lpg=PA14&dq=puerto+rico+%26+the+us+congress&source=bl&ots=JoYda7OsKU&sig=gF1pIXyungKf2Q9_dX0GYYNNQcU&hl=en&ei=jGfmSqD3CcPN8QbSnvWHBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CBgQ6AEwBjg8#v=onepage&q=puerto%20rico%20%26%20the%20us%20congress&f=false


http://www.cwluherstory.org/CWLUArchive/puertorico.html

[darkone_11]

Americans and that includes Puerto Ricans are not obligated to serve in the Military . The American Military is a volunteer force and every one that serves does so because they want too not because they have too or are obligated to. Puerto Ricans have voted down state hood and independence in every referendum that has come before it . And the main reason is not so much fear of losing there identity (they lost that when they became Americans and the island was americanized). Puerto Ricans buy there goods and services with American Dollars not PESOS and they spend them in stores like Walmart,Kmart,Macy's,JcPenny's Walgreens,Pizza Hut and the all american favorites Burger King, Kentucky Fried Pollo and McDonalds. As large a company and as widespread as Walmart is and they still dont exist in many of the largest metropolitan cities on the mainland. New York City being one of them. What they do fear is a state property tax that might be imposed on them by the state of Puerto Rico itself if they do become a state.They fear not being able to pay this tax and might end up losing there homes to the state which would now mean they would have to either rent a home, move to the mainland hoping for a better paying job and affordable housing or Create shelters for the new population of homeless people that a property tax imposed on them might give birth too. They fear statehood would bring more poverty to the island as opposed to the prosperity statehood might or might not bring to its people. They fear the unknown. Puerto Ricans do pay Social Security but because there wages are much lower then on the Mainland and have less higher paying jobs then the mainland does there benefit's from it appears to be much less then it would be if they were working on the mainland and were earning more money. Social Security is a federal tax and no matter which state you live in you pay the same percentage as anybody else does. So they don't pay more then anybody else does and they don't get less then anybody else does either. They get what they pay for.

[elissa141]

Yess, timical, woh...is us, we got left behind in the media cause Obama-man was & will be busy with his plate.All left-overs from the laughing-bush.The eyes of the world are upon us.To think of such loyalty to a destroyer.Stocks down the drain,homeless,jobless americans,2 wars with a people we have no right or hope to change,minuite men at borders-gone wild,all industries &jobs gone to other nations. I apreciate your concern,but we are fine= nip'd in the butt. We'were able to transport 2,800 prisoners,out way of danger.
What? Why so many prisoners? Ahh..the Drug Industry.Do U really think
All Drug Enforcement Agencies, want this issue solved. NO one in the US would have a Job...honey// World Order may be on it's way but Obama did NOT make that 1 up..World Leaders are watching..

[elissa141]

AUHH, to WestOstridge, we do pay federal taxes, these go to our local gov't. After all, if we don't pay 1rst home taxes, who's gonna support local police,firemen, bus drivers ect..and many other local necessities? We tremble on april 15th. another tax i'w forgot to mention. Did i say all hotels,airlines,Gas(gulf,texaco da da to Pepsi,Coke ta ta..and all big $$ also belong to USA...(even our undies)yesserie, everything except for our vote,blood, hearts & minds...May not sound like much, but the World IS listening.

[elissa141]

Also, the poor of all nations have migrated to US,our poor included. People who are well off in thier land,do NOT leave. PR has 18 Universities and Colleges./Univ.of PR holds 37 thousands students a yr. Not all who migrate are needy.We have 4 tops at Cape Canavaral a recent astronaut,new judge Sotomayor,Head of Hospitals,US University, High#of soldiers in ALL forces +plus National Guard,and of course to continue would be Snobbish...my point? YOU have NO idea about our people or our island. U have 50 states, we have 78 towns. To those who visit & know us..know we have 30 BK's, 20 Big Macs, Chilies, Macy's,JC Penny,Walmart..U name it we got it. BUT is it our's? nope just US $$$ all over our island, retreating what they tell the world they GIVE us!..who'd of thunk it.

[elissa141]

Ignorance,Narsicism and Bigotry are terrible diseases.NO TAX? can u at least do some math? We are deducted 36%tax + SocSec + Medicaid + health insurance. 7.5 on EVERYTHING we buy from the US..so we send much of $ back to you guys. Cars and large electronics are heavily taxed upon DOCK entrance. Cars cost an extra 3 - 10 Thou depending on yr. + Brand, so our monthly payments are over $2=$4 hundred extra. Here's the damn TAX confusion. Any additional,home,buisness,apt, property-pays tax. NOT the home U sweat a lifetime to pay so that SAM can take it from U. Isn't this why U are losing all to Banks&thieves! Isn't this why U fleed England and dumped on the Indians. seems simple math...If i toiled a lifetime cause I'w bought it..it should be mine! Would U vote it over to Uncle Sam?? and people who do nt consider each others as brothers,1 people?..We got that sh..t together

[timincal]

The reason it was not reported on the main stream media(except Fox) was they were waiting for permission from his Presidency Obama to report it.

You know this administration is adamant on controlling all the news the masses hear and see.

It took a while because we all he has a lot on his plate and doesn't want to make a decision until he has all the information.

He finally got it and declared a fire emergency so the controlled MSM could finally report it.

[maradlennys]

seriously, i cant believe the ignorance of some of you. you are all discussing how puerto rico doesnt pay taxes, or how we get benefits or whatever, do you guys seriously not understand that here in PUERTO RICO there's a fire! not a little one A BIG ONE! and the tanks keep blowing up. how about you just shut it about the goverment, right now there is a BIGGER problem.

[starleo146]

You are so right I believe Americans on the right have lost all civility, and I am so sorry what has happened in Puerto Rico. You have a beautiful home, and to see this on television is not only scary, but devastating.My first thought, because of all the notice to it was a terrorist act, I pray it was not.

[lcalendar]

I pay Federal Taxes because I work for the Federal Government and PR is being discriminated even at the Social Security where people in mainland get more benefits and extra money even when in many cases pay less than we do here in PR

[westcoastrich]

Um, there seems to be some confusion. I lived in Puerto Rico for 3 years (until Dec. 2008). Puerto Rican residents do NOT pay federal taxes. They pay Puerto Rican taxes which are much higher (33% for >$50k per year). And, there have been multiple votes on statehood. Residents of PR have declined it (usually) and once the US refused it (I believe that was a presidential veto in the 1950's but I'm not positive).

[coqui79]

I believe you may be the empty headed one and totally misinformed.
Puerto Ricans are US citizens from birth and we pay taxes and can use services like any other American.Our taxes ARE much higher in PR and Puerto Ricans are mixed in their decison of becoming a state or not for fear of losing their identity. Wonder why! With people that have such narrow minded notions I would be too. Ah! and not all Puerto Ricans are the classic Latino style you see in old oictures, we come in all colors. Our roots are deep in heritage from Europe and other countries. You can find blue eyed and blonde Puerto Ricans. Also, the American government has huge stakes in Puerto Rico for a variety of reasons. So bwelive me they get there money's worth in what we provide them in different areas. Hope you have been enlightened.

[westcoastrich]

Again, check your tax returns. You do not pay US taxes. This is because PR does not have voting representation in the US congress. There cannot be taxation without representation. I never claimed that Puerto Ricans didn't have rights to services like anyone else, only that federal taxes aren't paid - PR taxes are paid. I've always felt the island would be better off as an independent country. The culture of the island has strong roots (raices, if I recall) from Europe, Africa and don't forget Taino (who were there before Spain...). And, most of the federal money that goes to PR (closer to $6bln [statistical abstract of the US]) is for veteran benefits. Puerto Ricans serve in the US military, they get US military benefits- which seems fair to me.
All you've managed to enlighten me with is another reason to think PR should be a separate country. So, I guess your mission was accomplished.

[lcalendar]

Are you empty headed? I am waiting for the proof of your claims:

Isn't it true that it is Puerto Rico that has refused statehood? Your so called federal taxes don't amount to sqaut. Actually it's part of your congressional Budget. Oh yes and let us not forget the trifle 25 billion dollars of American Taxpayers money given yearly to Puerto Rico by the Federal Government Washington D.C. U.S.A.. And don't get me started with the large percentage of your countrymen,women and children that live in the mainland collecting government benefits.


Explain with reference information and dates the aboves.

Hello you have to prove you claim!

[maradlennys]

yes, we have refused statehood. cause we dont want to lose our culture. and our "so called federal taxes" are much higher that the one you on "mainland" pay. and our "benefits" have a lot of stupid restrictions so we might as well have none.

[Boricua_eddie]

Puerto Rico is and has been a colony of the United States for the past 111 years. The wealth that the United States Empire has striped from the island is immeasurable. Please read "Harvest of Empire" by Juan Gonzalez. The current government of Puerto Rico is a colonial government without any real power to represent Puerto Ricans. If Puerto Ricans are paying taxes to that government then that is taxation without representation because the ultimate sovereign of Puerto Rico is the Congress of the United State (Department of the Interior). In addition, the United States is the one that designed that government which is ineffective, hyper-bureaucratic, extremely corrupt and a prime example of tyranny. Every serious attempt at independence by the Puerto Rican people has been met with violence, intimidation and fear by the United States. Despite this Puerto Rican vote in overwhelming numbers. The electorate in PR averages 80%. In the United States if 40% of the electorate votes it's a record breaker. This shows that Puerto Ricans are a very democratic people even though we have no real democracy. This explosion of the gas reserves represents 111 years of a toxic relationship with the United States. Puerto Ricans need their own country. I believe PR can become a great democracy and an example to the world and The United States. But first Puerto Ricans need independence from the mind and then political and economic independence will follow.

[lcalendar]

Actually you can't back up any of your claims while my statement is true and real. Let's start about your statehood claims?????

[dontknowitall]

Facts only the facts

[dontknowitall]

Yawn. What was your statement again? Sorry fell asleep waiting for a response while your were sending rhetorical questions.

[lcalendar]

dontknowital: Certainly the name fit you! Everything writen by you could of be better researched and done by my German Sheperd here. Certainly you don't know it all!

[dontknowitall]

Drivel was your response. I do believe it is you who should be stating the facts to prove I am wrong. Only problem there is....you can't back it up.

[lcalendar]

dontknowitall: Capital letters were written by accident. I am calmed down from the start. I agree with boricua_in_blue: Puerto Rico is discriminated by the USA but surely use the men and women of the island for their war.

[lcalendar]

dontknowitall: Capital letters were written by accident. I am calmed down from the start. I agree with boricua_in_blue: Puerto Rico is discriminated by the USA but surely use the men and women of the island for their war.

[dontknowitall]

Icalender
Isn't it true that it is Puerto Rico that has refused statehood? Your so called federal taxes don't amount to sqaut. Actually it's part of your congressional Budget. Oh yes and let us not forget the trifle 25 billion dollars of American Taxpayers money given yearly to Puerto Rico by the Federal Government Washington D.C. U.S.A.. And don't get me started with the large percentage of your countrymen,women and children that live in the mainland collecting government benefits.

[boricua_in_blue]

As a Puerto Rican living in the mainland I worry about my family who live in our beloved island. My wife is visiting with her family there right now, she called me early this morning to share the news. I started looking for more information in our news outlets, it took hours before the news stated popping in. Puerto Rico is a US territory and should get the same attention in the news outlets as any other state. The millions of Puerto Ricans living abroad deserve timely and comprehensive news, not just a short blurp hours or days later.

[dontknowitall]

Does this entitle the Sol Group economic aid from the US Government?

[lcalendar]

GUESS NOT!

[dontknowitall]

Icalendar.. Jeesh calm down "MR CAPITAL LETTERS"

[kno-1]

Why is this article in the WORLD section of the site?
Puerto Rico is a Common Wealth of the United States and utilizes our currency, government benefits etc.

[lcalendar]

EASY IS CALLED DISCRIMINATION WHERE PUERTORICANS PAY FEDERAL TAXES, PAY SOCIAL SECURITY BUT GET LESS BENEFITS PAYING THE SAME AMOUNT AS ANYONE IN THE CONTINENTAL USA AND GETS ONLY FEW BENEFITS FROM USA CONTRARY TO WHAT PEOPLE MIGHT THINK. CAN'T EVEN VOTE FOR THE PRESIDENT WHILE PEOPLE ARE OBLIFATED TO SERVE IN THE ARMED FORCES CAN NOT VOTE FOR THEIR COMMANDER IN CHIEF.

YHE USA KEEPS PUERTO RICO AS A COLONY. THE US DISCRIMINATE PUERTO RICO INCLUDING IN THE NEWS COVERAGE.

[Questionews]

Thank God the Bacardi factory wasn't damaged.
That would have been devastating to our economy!

[lcalendar]

I admire your sense if humor but enough a;ready.

[Questionews]

Sorry. I was channeling with Sam Kinison all night.