463:
274:
27:
332:
409:
307:
211:
253:
Wildlife
Service (USFWS), and the Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources (PR DNR) found dead wildlife and both aquatic and avian species, including several legally protected species, covered in oil. Millions of dollars in damage were seen by neighboring communities. After the event, about 600 people were using shelters in Cataño, Guaynabo, and Toa Baja.
290:
due to the danger of the situation and a helicopter was patrolling the area. In less than one hour, firefighters from San Juan, Bayamón, Cataño, Toa Baja, Guaynabo, Carolina and
Trujillo Alto responded to the urgent call. Other stations from other parts of Puerto Rico such as Ponce, Caguas, Arecibo,
252:
The explosion caused 30 million US gallons (110,000 m) of petroleum to be released into bodies of water and neighboring wetlands of the San Juan Bay, resulting in dead wildlife and a major health impact to the population. Environmental assessments conducted by the EPA, the US Fish and
314:
To avoid further explosions, firefighters attempted to chill the remaining tanks to keep them from exploding. Also, dozens of fuel trucks were being moved from the area. Due to the smoke cloud, authorities evacuated several communities downwind from it, as well as 80 people living in a secure
470:
On
October 30, 2009, the director of the FBI in Puerto Rico, Luis Fraticelli, said that more than 240 investigators analyzed the explosion and did not find evidence it was intentional. Authorities continued to investigate whether negligence was involved. The next month, officials from the
281:
The call came to the Puerto Rico 9-1-1 office at 12:27 am. The Puerto Rico Fire
Department stations of Bayamón and Cataño responded to the call once the tanks exploded. Later, due to the seriousness of the situation, PRFD had to make the decision to urgently call fire stations island-wide.
363:
separately declared a federal state of emergency in Puerto Rico, clearing the way for U.S. federal agencies to coordinate disaster relief and authorizing the use of federal funds. Fighting the fire has cost the local Puerto Rican government more than $ 6.4 million, as of
October 25. The
500:
Insurance
Company. MAPFRE was later removed from the lawsuit. The action was filed by lawyers John Navares, Camilo Salas, and Daniel Becnel. On December 11, 2009, a third joint lawsuit was presented against Caribbean Petroleum Corp. by 1,000 defendants seeking $ 500 million in damages.
349:, and activated the Puerto Rico National Guard to support firefighters and aid the injured. Also, schools in the San Juan Metro Area were cancelled for the day, some schools near the explosion area were closed until 4 days after the explosion due to people who were evacuated.
946:(In Spanish. English title: "University of Puerto Rico Strike: The president of the university's board of trustees met with the Director of the FBI.") Joel Ortiz Rivera and Gloria Ruiz Kuilan. El Nuevo Dia. January 13, 2011. News Section. Accessed January 16, 2011.
299:, responded to the fire. Fifteen hundred residents were evacuated from four adjacent communities. Also, San Juan, Carolina and Bayamón city fire departments and the Luis Muñoz Marín Airport Crash and Rescue responded to the call. As a result of the smoke cloud, the
475:
announced that a malfunctioning tank fuel gauge led to the explosion. The faulty equipment prevented workers from noticing that one of the tanks was overflowing before the fuel vapors ignited after coming into contact with electrical equipment.
256:
The five workers that were present at the plant at the moment managed to escape in time. Several drivers were injured when the explosion shattered the glass in their cars, two people suffered minor injuries at the nearby
1117:
893:
1204:
512:. The company cited debts of $ 500 million to $ 1 billion, against assets of $ 100 million to $ 500 million, according to the filing. The filing came after the company failed to comply with
462:
444:
brand name, but only 10 percent is managed from this plant. Government officials said at the time that Puerto Rico had enough fuel and diesel to last for 24 days after the disaster.
1137:
472:
426:
516:
orders to clean the site of the explosion. Caribbean
Petroleum claimed their financial situation prevented them from doing the work, and EPA took over the cleaning process.
202:, it technically occurred within the borders of Bayamón, even though Cataño was more affected by fumes and evacuation. There were no fatalities, but 3 people were injured.
960:
716:
1209:
93:
890:
781:
1199:
777:
1101:
917:
249:, 11 miles away and shook windows and doors over two miles away. At some point the flames reached a height of 100 feet (30 m) above the refinery.
979:
1174:
810:
509:
1154:
391:. Luis Fortuño announced on October 25 that the fire had been extinguished, and estimated the initial cost to fight the fire at $ 6.4 million.
459:
with the message: "Boom, fire, RIP, Gulf." However, the FBI later determined that they were not painted by anyone connected to the explosion.
513:
300:
1004:
690:
316:
1089:
1219:
1184:
1214:
1046:
1067:
273:
619:
1189:
493:
179:
70:
955:
941:
357:
310:
Visible satellite image taken by NASA's Terra
Satellite showing the large area covered by black smoke produced by the fire.
1194:
667:
283:
1133:
1179:
437:, to aid in the investigation, said ATF spokesman Marcial Orlando Felix. Several agents flew in from the U.S. Mainland.
388:
86:
785:
726:
597:
215:
1149:
921:
695:
535:
369:
296:
258:
26:
440:
The
Caribbean Petroleum Corporation supplies most of Puerto Rico's oil and gasoline, which is marketed under the
818:
750:
530:
525:
1051:
430:
339:
242:
191:
75:
839:
976:
287:
222:
199:
59:
988:
862:
489:
456:
434:
331:
1159:
672:
592:
245:. The tanks exploded at approximately 12:23 a.m. and could be heard in places as far away as
1033:
721:
620:"Final Investigation Report. CARIBBEAN PETROLEUM TANK TERMINAL EXPLOSION AND MULTIPLE TANK FIRES"
384:
365:
346:
246:
1001:
1076:
814:
178:
that began with an explosion on
October 23, 2009, and was extinguished on October 25 at the
1071:
1008:
983:
964:
897:
452:
342:
320:
1064:
867:
306:
1160:
CNN article on fire and possibly related "Boom, fire, RIP, Gulf, Soul, ACNF." graffiti
210:
1168:
1105:
291:
Humacao, and even Ft. Buchanan also responded to the scene. One hundred and thirty
1118:
Caribbean Petroleum Files for Bankruptcy Following Explosion at Petroleum Tank Farm
376:
360:
183:
564:
668:
Puerto Rico explosion at Gulf gasoline plant creates massive cloud of toxic smoke
466:
View of the damage caused to the vegetation and some of the tanks after the fire.
292:
234:
195:
79:
967:
Juan Antonio Ocasio Rivera. New York Latino Journal. Accessed January 16, 2011.
383:
to extinguish the fire, but the fire was extinguished before it could be used.
1143:
1021:
505:
412:
238:
108:
95:
262:
187:
651:
221:
The initial explosion destroyed eleven storage tanks at the facility, but
655:
569:
448:
441:
380:
230:
226:
237:. The resulting explosion was measured as equivalent to a 2.8-magnitude
198:. While the fire and subsequent explosion occurred close to the city of
1028:
755:
485:
1102:
Caribbean Petroleum Seeks Bankruptcy Protection After Harbor Explosion
497:
1120:
on Delaware Bankruptcy Litigation; Cornell, Jason (August 16, 2010)
421:
On the days after the explosion, more than 60 agents from both the
943:
Huelga UPR: Presidenta de los síndicos se reunió con jefe del FBI.
461:
330:
305:
272:
209:
618:
U.S. CHEMICAL SAFETY AND HAZARD INVESTIGATION BOARD (June 2015).
447:
The morning after the explosion, police started investigating a
175:
918:"Descartan el sabotaje como causa del incendio en la refinería"
901:
422:
265:, and four other people sought help for respiratory problems.
891:
Puerto Rico fire linked to faulty gas tank monitoring system
1090:
Legal Action Taken Against the Caribbean Petroleum Company
504:
On August 2010, Caribbean Petroleum Corporation filed for
335:
Caribbean Gulf Petroleum Explosion from Baldrich, Hato Rey
1155:
Caribbean Business: Feds launch probe of fuel depot fire
368:
announced that the explosion and fire had closed nearby
1092:
on RepeatingIslands; Romero, Ivette (December 12, 2009)
1065:
Caribbean Petroleum Corporation slapped with third suit
1023:
Excerpt from Upcoming CSB Safety Video "Filling Blind"
863:"Puerto Rico Has Fuel Supplies for 24 Days After Fire"
31:
Aerial view of the fire and the resulting smoke cloud
1205:
Industrial fires and explosions in the United States
429:
were dispatched to the Caribbean Petroleum Corp. in
1138:
U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board
473:
U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board
427:
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
401:
156:
148:
140:
132:
124:
85:
66:
54:
36:
1047:First Lawsuit Hits Over Friday's Explosion in P.R.
751:"Winds shift as fire burns Puerto Rican oil depot"
647:
645:
643:
214:A picture taken minutes after the explosion from
1002:Capeco files for bankruptcy, blames PR explosion
277:Firefighter inside the Gulf explosion perimeter
717:"Fort Buchanan remains closed due to the fire"
8:
652:Explosion rocks Gulf facility on Puerto Rico
323:canceled classes at nearby schools as well.
19:
488:was filed in the Federal District Court of
225:to other nearby tanks. The tanks contained
1011:on BloombergBusinessWeek (August 13, 2010)
804:
802:
778:Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration
18:
16:Explosion and fire in Bayamón, Puerto Rico
977:Faulty tank gauge led to Capeco explosion
920:(in Spanish). Agecnia EFE. Archived from
691:"Puerto Rico oil fire burns uncontrolled"
811:"Feds probe cause of PR fuel depot fire"
593:"CAPECO disaster, Puerto Rico | EJAtlas"
547:
160:Several buildings and oil tanks damaged
1055:Blogs; Jones, Ashby (October 23, 2009)
912:
910:
886:
884:
398:
375:Authorities built a temporary pipe to
684:
682:
676:; Associated Press (October 23, 2009)
559:
557:
555:
553:
551:
7:
1210:October 2009 events in North America
745:
743:
514:U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
301:U.S. Federal Aviation Administration
1145:CSB video presentation on the fire
1108:; Schneider, Joe (August 13, 2010)
565:"Evacuation from Puerto Rico fire"
14:
1200:History of the petroleum industry
957:Puerto Rico’s October Revolution.
1036:from the original on 2021-12-11.
407:
25:
1175:2009 fires in the United States
861:Martinez, Andres (2009-10-23).
782:"Puerto Rico Fire Extinguished"
689:Martinez, Andres (2009-10-25).
658:; Associated Press (10/23/2009)
494:Caribbean Petroleum Corporation
484:The day after the explosion, a
180:Caribbean Petroleum Corporation
71:Caribbean Petroleum Corporation
136:Malfunctioning tank fuel gauge
1:
387:was supplied from the nearby
284:Puerto Rico Police Department
168:2009 Cataño oil refinery fire
784:. Earthtimes. Archived from
725:. 2009-10-25. Archived from
389:United States Virgin Islands
809:Coto, Danila (2009-10-25).
598:Environmental Justice Atlas
1236:
696:United Press International
536:Morris J. Berman oil spill
415:(11:08), CSB Safety Video
297:Puerto Rico National Guard
295:, with the support of the
73:oil refinery and oil depot
1220:Explosions in Puerto Rico
1185:2009 industrial disasters
406:
24:
1215:Petroleum in Puerto Rico
1007:August 26, 2010, at the
531:Humberto Vidal explosion
526:Dupont Plaza Hotel arson
303:diverted plane traffic.
1052:The Wall Street Journal
896:March 22, 2012, at the
243:Richter magnitude scale
842:. CSB. 21 October 2015
467:
372:until further notice.
336:
311:
278:
218:
42:; 14 years ago
989:Puerto Rico Daily Sun
465:
334:
309:
276:
213:
40:October 23, 2009
1195:Fires in Puerto Rico
340:Puerto Rico Governor
319:witnesses. Governor
170:, also known as the
1190:Cataño, Puerto Rico
1180:2009 in Puerto Rico
1080:(December 11, 2009)
992:(November 18, 2009)
924:on January 24, 2013
904:(November 17, 2009)
673:New York Daily News
288:De Diego Expressway
109:18.4165°N 66.1316°W
105: /
21:
1070:2011-06-29 at the
982:2012-03-28 at the
963:2009-08-26 at the
840:"CSB Safety Video"
722:Caribbean Business
468:
385:Fire fighting foam
379:in order to bring
366:United States Army
347:state of emergency
337:
317:Justice Department
312:
279:
219:
149:Non-fatal injuries
419:
418:
164:
163:
114:18.4165; -66.1316
1227:
1146:
1121:
1115:
1109:
1099:
1093:
1087:
1081:
1077:Jamaica Observer
1062:
1056:
1044:
1038:
1037:
1018:
1012:
999:
993:
974:
968:
953:
947:
939:
933:
932:
930:
929:
914:
905:
888:
879:
878:
876:
875:
858:
852:
851:
849:
847:
836:
830:
829:
827:
826:
817:. Archived from
815:Associated Press
806:
797:
796:
794:
793:
774:
768:
767:
765:
764:
747:
738:
737:
735:
734:
713:
707:
706:
704:
703:
686:
677:
665:
659:
649:
638:
637:
635:
633:
624:
615:
609:
608:
606:
605:
588:
582:
581:
579:
578:
561:
411:
410:
399:
353:Governmental Aid
269:Initial Response
172:CAPECO explosion
128:CAPECO explosion
120:
119:
117:
116:
115:
110:
106:
103:
102:
101:
98:
50:
48:
43:
29:
22:
20:CAPECO explosion
1235:
1234:
1230:
1229:
1228:
1226:
1225:
1224:
1165:
1164:
1144:
1130:
1125:
1124:
1116:
1112:
1100:
1096:
1088:
1084:
1072:Wayback Machine
1063:
1059:
1045:
1041:
1020:
1019:
1015:
1009:Wayback Machine
1000:
996:
984:Wayback Machine
975:
971:
965:Wayback Machine
954:
950:
940:
936:
927:
925:
916:
915:
908:
898:Wayback Machine
889:
882:
873:
871:
860:
859:
855:
845:
843:
838:
837:
833:
824:
822:
808:
807:
800:
791:
789:
776:
775:
771:
762:
760:
749:
748:
741:
732:
730:
715:
714:
710:
701:
699:
688:
687:
680:
666:
662:
650:
641:
631:
629:
622:
617:
616:
612:
603:
601:
590:
589:
585:
576:
574:
563:
562:
549:
544:
522:
482:
453:Minillas Tunnel
451:found near the
433:, just west of
408:
402:External videos
397:
355:
329:
271:
208:
157:Property damage
113:
111:
107:
104:
99:
96:
94:
92:
91:
74:
46:
44:
41:
32:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1233:
1231:
1223:
1222:
1217:
1212:
1207:
1202:
1197:
1192:
1187:
1182:
1177:
1167:
1166:
1163:
1162:
1157:
1152:
1141:
1134:Summary Report
1129:
1128:External links
1126:
1123:
1122:
1110:
1094:
1082:
1057:
1039:
1013:
994:
969:
948:
934:
906:
880:
868:Bloomberg News
853:
831:
798:
780:(2009-10-26).
769:
739:
708:
678:
660:
639:
610:
583:
546:
545:
543:
540:
539:
538:
533:
528:
521:
518:
481:
478:
417:
416:
404:
403:
396:
393:
354:
351:
328:
327:Local Response
325:
270:
267:
223:quickly spread
207:
204:
162:
161:
158:
154:
153:
150:
146:
145:
142:
138:
137:
134:
130:
129:
126:
122:
121:
89:
83:
82:
68:
64:
63:
56:
52:
51:
38:
34:
33:
30:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1232:
1221:
1218:
1216:
1213:
1211:
1208:
1206:
1203:
1201:
1198:
1196:
1193:
1191:
1188:
1186:
1183:
1181:
1178:
1176:
1173:
1172:
1170:
1161:
1158:
1156:
1153:
1151:
1147:
1142:
1139:
1135:
1132:
1131:
1127:
1119:
1114:
1111:
1107:
1106:Bloomberg.com
1103:
1098:
1095:
1091:
1086:
1083:
1079:
1078:
1073:
1069:
1066:
1061:
1058:
1054:
1053:
1048:
1043:
1040:
1035:
1031:
1030:
1025:
1024:
1017:
1014:
1010:
1006:
1003:
998:
995:
991:
990:
985:
981:
978:
973:
970:
966:
962:
959:
958:
952:
949:
945:
944:
938:
935:
923:
919:
913:
911:
907:
903:
899:
895:
892:
887:
885:
881:
870:
869:
864:
857:
854:
841:
835:
832:
821:on 2013-01-20
820:
816:
812:
805:
803:
799:
788:on 2013-04-14
787:
783:
779:
773:
770:
758:
757:
752:
746:
744:
740:
729:on 2011-07-08
728:
724:
723:
718:
712:
709:
698:
697:
692:
685:
683:
679:
675:
674:
669:
664:
661:
657:
653:
648:
646:
644:
640:
628:
621:
614:
611:
600:
599:
594:
587:
584:
572:
571:
566:
560:
558:
556:
554:
552:
548:
541:
537:
534:
532:
529:
527:
524:
523:
519:
517:
515:
511:
507:
502:
499:
495:
491:
487:
479:
477:
474:
464:
460:
458:
454:
450:
445:
443:
438:
436:
432:
428:
424:
414:
413:Filling Blind
405:
400:
395:Investigation
394:
392:
390:
386:
382:
378:
373:
371:
370:Fort Buchanan
367:
362:
359:
352:
350:
348:
344:
341:
333:
326:
324:
322:
318:
315:facility for
308:
304:
302:
298:
294:
289:
285:
275:
268:
266:
264:
260:
259:Fort Buchanan
254:
250:
248:
244:
240:
236:
232:
228:
224:
217:
212:
205:
203:
201:
197:
193:
189:
185:
181:
177:
173:
169:
159:
155:
151:
147:
143:
139:
135:
131:
127:
125:Also known as
123:
118:
90:
88:
84:
81:
77:
72:
69:
65:
61:
57:
53:
39:
35:
28:
23:
1113:
1097:
1085:
1075:
1060:
1050:
1042:
1027:
1022:
1016:
997:
987:
972:
956:
951:
942:
937:
926:. Retrieved
922:the original
872:. Retrieved
866:
856:
844:. Retrieved
834:
823:. Retrieved
819:the original
790:. Retrieved
786:the original
772:
761:. Retrieved
759:. 2009-10-24
754:
731:. Retrieved
727:the original
720:
711:
700:. Retrieved
694:
671:
663:
630:. Retrieved
626:
613:
602:. Retrieved
596:
586:
575:. Retrieved
573:. 2009-10-24
568:
503:
483:
469:
446:
439:
420:
377:San Juan Bay
374:
361:Barack Obama
356:
343:Luis Fortuño
338:
321:Luis Fortuño
313:
293:firefighters
280:
255:
251:
220:
184:oil refinery
171:
167:
165:
846:21 November
345:declared a
286:closed the
216:Río Piedras
196:Puerto Rico
112: /
87:Coordinates
80:Puerto Rico
1169:Categories
928:2009-11-02
874:2009-10-25
825:2009-10-26
792:2009-10-26
763:2009-10-25
733:2009-10-25
702:2009-10-25
604:2020-04-22
577:2009-10-25
542:References
510:Chapter 11
506:bankruptcy
239:earthquake
100:66°07′54″W
97:18°24′59″N
47:2009-10-23
632:April 22,
480:Aftermath
358:President
263:U.S. Army
188:oil depot
182:(CAPECO)
58:12:23am (
1068:Archived
1034:Archived
1005:Archived
980:Archived
961:Archived
894:Archived
656:NBC News
570:BBC News
520:See also
492:against
490:San Juan
457:San Juan
449:graffiti
442:Gulf Oil
435:San Juan
425:and the
381:seawater
231:jet fuel
227:gasoline
174:, was a
67:Location
1150:YouTube
1029:YouTube
756:Reuters
591:EJOLT.
486:lawsuit
431:Bayamón
261:of the
241:on the
192:Bayamón
76:Bayamón
45: (
508:under
498:MAPFRE
235:diesel
233:, and
200:Cataño
141:Deaths
1140:(CSB)
1136:from
623:(PDF)
247:Cidra
206:Event
133:Cause
848:2016
634:2020
496:and
186:and
176:fire
166:The
55:Time
37:Date
1148:on
1104:on
1074:on
1049:on
986:on
902:CNN
900:on
670:on
654:on
627:CSB
455:in
423:FBI
190:in
60:AST
1171::
1032:.
1026:.
909:^
883:^
865:.
813:.
801:^
753:.
742:^
719:.
693:.
681:^
642:^
625:.
595:.
567:.
550:^
229:,
194:,
78:,
931:.
877:.
850:.
828:.
795:.
766:.
736:.
705:.
636:.
607:.
580:.
152:3
144:0
62:)
49:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
