481:
292:
45:
350:
427:
325:
229:
271:
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.
308:
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,
270:
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
332:
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
488:
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
299:
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.
381:
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
518:
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.
367:, 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.
964:(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.
317:, 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
493:
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.
274:
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
1135:
911:
530:. 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
30:
462:
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.
1222:
534:
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.
220:, 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.
978:
734:
111:
908:
799:
1155:
490:
444:
1119:
935:
267:, 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.
997:
828:
1172:
480:
409:. 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.
477:
with the message: "Boom, fire, RIP, Gulf." However, the FBI later determined that they were not painted by anyone connected to the explosion.
1227:
1022:
708:
1217:
1107:
795:
1192:
1064:
527:
1085:
637:
973:
959:
531:
328:
Visible satellite image taken by NASA's Terra
Satellite showing the large area covered by black smoke produced by the fire.
318:
685:
1151:
334:
455:, to aid in the investigation, said ATF spokesman Marcial Orlando Felix. Several agents flew in from the U.S. Mainland.
1237:
1202:
803:
744:
1232:
939:
511:
458:
The
Caribbean Petroleum Corporation supplies most of Puerto Rico's oil and gasoline, which is marketed under the
197:
88:
1207:
836:
768:
375:
1212:
301:
1197:
857:
406:
104:
994:
615:
291:
880:
233:
1167:
713:
553:
387:
314:
276:
1177:
548:
543:
610:
263:. The tanks exploded at approximately 12:23 a.m. and could be heard in places as far away as
1069:
1051:
638:"Final Investigation Report. CARIBBEAN PETROLEUM TANK TERMINAL EXPLOSION AND MULTIPLE TANK FIRES"
357:
260:
448:
209:
93:
305:
240:
77:
25:
217:
1019:
1006:
507:
474:
452:
44:
196:
that began with an explosion on
October 23, 2009, and was extinguished on October 25 at the
8:
690:
1082:
739:
402:
383:
364:
264:
1178:
CNN article on fire and possibly related "Boom, fire, RIP, Gulf, Soul, ACNF." graffiti
349:
309:
Humacao, and even Ft. Buchanan also responded to the scene. One hundred and thirty
1136:
Caribbean Petroleum Files for Bankruptcy Following Explosion at Petroleum Tank Farm
1094:
832:
635:
582:
1089:
1026:
1001:
982:
915:
686:
Puerto Rico explosion at Gulf gasoline plant creates massive cloud of toxic smoke
484:
View of the damage caused to the vegetation and some of the tanks after the fire.
470:
360:
338:
985:
Juan Antonio Ocasio Rivera. New York Latino Journal. Accessed January 16, 2011.
885:
401:
to extinguish the fire, but the fire was extinguished before it could be used.
1161:
1039:
430:
1186:
1123:
126:
113:
21:
394:
378:
201:
794:
669:
239:
The initial explosion destroyed eleven storage tanks at the facility, but
324:
310:
252:
213:
97:
255:. The resulting explosion was measured as equivalent to a 2.8-magnitude
228:
216:. While the fire and subsequent explosion occurred close to the city of
523:
256:
1120:
Caribbean Petroleum Seeks Bankruptcy Protection After Harbor Explosion
280:
205:
1138:
on Delaware Bankruptcy Litigation; Cornell, Jason (August 16, 2010)
673:
587:
466:
459:
439:
On the days after the explosion, more than 60 agents from both the
398:
248:
244:
961:
Huelga UPR: Presidenta de los síndicos se reunió con jefe del FBI.
1046:
773:
636:
U.S. CHEMICAL SAFETY AND HAZARD INVESTIGATION BOARD (June 2015).
503:
465:
The morning after the explosion, police started investigating a
936:"Descartan el sabotaje como causa del incendio en la refinería"
515:
283:, and four other people sought help for respiratory problems.
909:
Puerto Rico fire linked to faulty gas tank monitoring system
193:
1108:
Legal Action Taken Against the Caribbean Petroleum Company
522:
On August 2010, Caribbean Petroleum Corporation filed for
353:
Caribbean Gulf Petroleum Explosion from Baldrich, Hato Rey
919:
440:
1173:
Caribbean Business: Feds launch probe of fuel depot fire
386:
announced that the explosion and fire had closed nearby
1110:
on RepeatingIslands; Romero, Ivette (December 12, 2009)
1083:
Caribbean Petroleum Corporation slapped with third suit
1041:
Excerpt from Upcoming CSB Safety Video "Filling Blind"
881:"Puerto Rico Has Fuel Supplies for 24 Days After Fire"
49:
Aerial view of the fire and the resulting smoke cloud
1223:
Industrial fires and explosions in the United States
447:
were dispatched to the Caribbean Petroleum Corp. in
1156:
U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board
491:
U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board
445:
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
1065:First Lawsuit Hits Over Friday's Explosion in P.R.
769:"Winds shift as fire burns Puerto Rican oil depot"
665:
663:
661:
232:A picture taken minutes after the explosion from
1184:
1020:Capeco files for bankruptcy, blames PR explosion
295:Firefighter inside the Gulf explosion perimeter
735:"Fort Buchanan remains closed due to the fire"
658:
826:
670:Explosion rocks Gulf facility on Puerto Rico
341:canceled classes at nearby schools as well.
506:was filed in the Federal District Court of
243:to other nearby tanks. The tanks contained
1029:on BloombergBusinessWeek (August 13, 2010)
822:
820:
796:Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration
16:Explosion and fire in Bayamón, Puerto Rico
995:Faulty tank gauge led to Capeco explosion
938:(in Spanish). Agecnia EFE. Archived from
872:
788:
709:"Puerto Rico oil fire burns uncontrolled"
878:
829:"Feds probe cause of PR fuel depot fire"
706:
611:"CAPECO disaster, Puerto Rico | EJAtlas"
479:
348:
323:
290:
227:
817:
178:Several buildings and oil tanks damaged
1185:
1073:Blogs; Jones, Ashby (October 23, 2009)
930:
928:
904:
902:
393:Authorities built a temporary pipe to
850:
702:
700:
694:; Associated Press (October 23, 2009)
577:
575:
573:
571:
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1228:October 2009 events in North America
763:
761:
532:U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
319:U.S. Federal Aviation Administration
925:
899:
370:
286:
13:
1163:CSB video presentation on the fire
1126:; Schneider, Joe (August 13, 2010)
697:
583:"Evacuation from Puerto Rico fire"
566:
14:
1249:
1218:History of the petroleum industry
1145:
975:Puerto Rico’s October Revolution.
758:
727:
608:
344:
1054:from the original on 2021-12-11.
425:
412:
43:
1193:2009 fires in the United States
1129:
1113:
1101:
1076:
1058:
1032:
1013:
988:
967:
953:
879:Martinez, Andres (2009-10-23).
800:"Puerto Rico Fire Extinguished"
707:Martinez, Andres (2009-10-25).
676:; Associated Press (10/23/2009)
512:Caribbean Petroleum Corporation
502:The day after the explosion, a
198:Caribbean Petroleum Corporation
89:Caribbean Petroleum Corporation
679:
629:
602:
154:Malfunctioning tank fuel gauge
1:
559:
405:was supplied from the nearby
302:Puerto Rico Police Department
186:2009 Cataño oil refinery fire
802:. Earthtimes. Archived from
743:. 2009-10-25. Archived from
497:
407:United States Virgin Islands
7:
827:Coto, Danila (2009-10-25).
616:Environmental Justice Atlas
537:
10:
1254:
714:United Press International
554:Morris J. Berman oil spill
433:(11:08), CSB Safety Video
315:Puerto Rico National Guard
313:, with the support of the
91:oil refinery and oil depot
1238:Explosions in Puerto Rico
1203:2009 industrial disasters
424:
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174:
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150:
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103:
84:
72:
54:
42:
1233:Petroleum in Puerto Rico
1025:August 26, 2010, at the
549:Humberto Vidal explosion
544:Dupont Plaza Hotel arson
321:diverted plane traffic.
223:
1070:The Wall Street Journal
914:March 22, 2012, at the
261:Richter magnitude scale
18:
860:. CSB. 21 October 2015
485:
390:until further notice.
354:
329:
296:
236:
60:; 14 years ago
31:considered for merging
1007:Puerto Rico Daily Sun
483:
352:
327:
294:
231:
58:October 23, 2009
1213:Fires in Puerto Rico
358:Puerto Rico Governor
337:witnesses. Governor
188:, also known as the
1208:Cataño, Puerto Rico
1198:2009 in Puerto Rico
1098:(December 11, 2009)
1010:(November 18, 2009)
942:on January 24, 2013
922:(November 17, 2009)
691:New York Daily News
306:De Diego Expressway
127:18.4165°N 66.1316°W
123: /
39:
1088:2011-06-29 at the
1000:2012-03-28 at the
981:2009-08-26 at the
858:"CSB Safety Video"
740:Caribbean Business
486:
403:Fire fighting foam
397:in order to bring
384:United States Army
365:state of emergency
355:
335:Justice Department
330:
297:
237:
167:Non-fatal injuries
37:
437:
436:
182:
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132:18.4165; -66.1316
1245:
1164:
1139:
1133:
1127:
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1095:Jamaica Observer
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835:. Archived from
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371:Governmental Aid
287:Initial Response
190:CAPECO explosion
146:CAPECO explosion
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38:CAPECO explosion
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471:Minillas Tunnel
469:found near the
451:, just west of
426:
420:External videos
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175:Property damage
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886:Bloomberg News
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798:(2009-10-26).
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839:on 2013-01-20
838:
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823:
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806:on 2013-04-14
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764:
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747:on 2011-07-08
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432:
431:Filling Blind
423:
418:
413:Investigation
410:
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396:
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389:
388:Fort Buchanan
385:
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368:
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333:facility for
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277:Fort Buchanan
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143:Also known as
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26:Infobox event
23:
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1078:
1068:
1060:
1045:
1040:
1034:
1015:
1005:
990:
974:
969:
960:
955:
944:. Retrieved
940:the original
890:. Retrieved
884:
874:
862:. Retrieved
852:
841:. Retrieved
837:the original
808:. Retrieved
804:the original
790:
779:. Retrieved
777:. 2009-10-24
772:
749:. Retrieved
745:the original
738:
729:
718:. Retrieved
712:
689:
681:
648:. Retrieved
644:
631:
620:. Retrieved
614:
604:
593:. Retrieved
591:. 2009-10-24
586:
521:
501:
487:
464:
457:
438:
395:San Juan Bay
392:
379:Barack Obama
374:
361:Luis Fortuño
356:
339:Luis Fortuño
331:
311:firefighters
298:
273:
269:
238:
202:oil refinery
189:
185:
183:
24:
864:21 November
363:declared a
304:closed the
234:Río Piedras
214:Puerto Rico
130: /
105:Coordinates
98:Puerto Rico
20:‹ The
1187:Categories
946:2009-11-02
892:2009-10-25
843:2009-10-26
810:2009-10-26
781:2009-10-25
751:2009-10-25
720:2009-10-25
622:2020-04-22
595:2009-10-25
560:References
528:Chapter 11
524:bankruptcy
257:earthquake
118:66°07′54″W
115:18°24′59″N
65:2009-10-23
650:April 22,
498:Aftermath
376:President
281:U.S. Army
206:oil depot
200:(CAPECO)
76:12:23am (
29:is being
1086:Archived
1052:Archived
1023:Archived
998:Archived
979:Archived
912:Archived
674:NBC News
588:BBC News
538:See also
510:against
508:San Juan
475:San Juan
467:graffiti
460:Gulf Oil
453:San Juan
443:and the
399:seawater
249:jet fuel
245:gasoline
192:, was a
85:Location
33:. ›
22:template
1168:YouTube
1047:YouTube
774:Reuters
609:EJOLT.
504:lawsuit
449:Bayamón
279:of the
259:on the
210:Bayamón
94:Bayamón
63: (
526:under
516:MAPFRE
253:diesel
251:, and
218:Cataño
159:Deaths
1158:(CSB)
1154:from
641:(PDF)
265:Cidra
224:Event
151:Cause
866:2016
652:2020
514:and
204:and
194:fire
184:The
73:Time
55:Date
1166:on
1122:on
1092:on
1067:on
1004:on
920:CNN
918:on
688:on
672:on
645:CSB
473:in
441:FBI
208:in
78:AST
1189::
1050:.
1044:.
927:^
901:^
883:.
831:.
819:^
771:.
760:^
737:.
711:.
699:^
660:^
643:.
613:.
585:.
568:^
247:,
212:,
96:,
949:.
895:.
868:.
846:.
813:.
784:.
754:.
723:.
654:.
625:.
598:.
170:3
162:0
80:)
67:)
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