February 16, 2015
MEXICO CITY (AP
Mexican officials said Monday that two
worn-out bolts on a gas tanker truck broke, causing a leak that resulted in a
hospital explosion that killed five people last month.
The results of the investigation again
highlighted the unsafe conditions that many propane tankers operate under.
The failure "was caused by (metal)
fatigue on the bolts due to a lack of proper maintenance," said Mexico
City chief prosecutor Rodolfo Rios.
When the two bolts on a pipe flange connected
to the truck's pump cracked, a gasket partially blew out, allowing gas to
accumulate on the hospital grounds for about 25 minutes.
The leak later ignited. The subsequent
explosion and fire collapsed most of the maternity hospital on Jan. 29.
Rios also noted that one of the bolts was the
wrong size, and the truck's gas meter had been altered to shortchange
customers.
Experts said wire and Teflon tape had been
improperly used on parts of the truck's valves.
Authorities are seeking the cancellation of
the operating permit for the tank farm where the truck was based. The company
that operated the truck could also face fines of up to $2.8 million. More than
70 people were injured in the blast. The dead included a hospital orderly, two
nurses and two infants.
Most Mexicans still rely on roof-top propane
tanks for cooking and heating water. Nationwide, a fleet of about 10,000
privately-operated tank trucks rumble across Mexico filling stationary tanks
through hoses and pipes. Many of those trucks are accused of short-changing
customers by illegally altering pipes, valves and flow meters to record more
gas than is actually delivered.
Unfortunately, lack of proper maintenance is the
leading cause of many industrial and non-industrial disasters. All equipment, engines, piping, valves, etc.
require regular maintenance otherwise they fail. The failure to properly maintain or inspect
equipment sometimes causes catastrophic damages, such as the one here in the
Mexico City.
