Puerto Rico – Feds Launch Probe Into Massive Fuel Depot Fire

The cause has yet to be determined and there is at this time no indication the fire was deliberately set or related to terrorism however, more than 100 federal authorities have entered a smoldering fuel depot for the first time Sunday to investigate whether someone intentionally caused the massive explosion explosion.

On Saturday, President Barack Obama designated the U.S. Caribbean territory an emergency zone and ordered federal aid to supplement local efforts.

From The Caribbean Business PR

More than 100 federal agents entered the smoldering Caribbean Petroleum Corporation fuel depot on Sunday as the investigation began in earnest into the cause of an explosion that rocked the San Juan metro area early Friday morning and sparked a massive fire that burned for more than two days.

The blast registered 2.8 on the Richter scale and the ensuing blaze sent up an enormous tower of toxic smoke that forced the evacuation of some 1,500 residents from communities surrounding the Bayamón facility.

Marcial Orlando Félix, the head of the federal Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) Bureau in Puerto Rico said Sunday marked the first time that ATF and FBI agents have been able to enter the site since the blast shortly before 12:30 a.m. Friday. Federal agents have been at the scene since then as a crew of nearly 200 firefighters battled the blaze around the clock before nearly snuffing the flames on Sunday.

Officials said only one tank containing 210,000 barrels of jet fuel remained burning and that was finally extinguished sometime Sunday afternoon. The facility supplies the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority, some 200 Gulf gas stations on the island and stores jet fuel.

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