Death toll in Venezuela refinery blast rises to 48

The death toll in an explosion and fire at Venezuela’s largest oil-refining complex rose to 48, while several people injured in the conflagration remain hospitalized, Falcon state Governor Stella Lugo said Monday. A gas leak is believed to have caused the explosion Saturday at the Amuay refinery on Venezuela’s northern coast, injuring about 80 people. The resulting fire engulfed nine oil tanks, two of which remained in flames Monday. The facility in Paraguana in the western state of Falcon processed more than 900,000 barrels of fuel a day. Mining and Petroleum Minister Rafael Ramirez insisted Monday that the refinery would resume operations two days after the fire is put out, and that the ongoing fire is not a risk for the rest of the complex.