39 Killed in Venezuela Refinery Explosion (Updated)

More than 80 injured

A huge explosion rocked Venezuela's biggest oil refinery and unleashed a ferocious fire on Saturday, killing at least 39 people and injuring more than 80 others in one of the deadliest disasters ever to hit the country's key oil industry.

Balls of fire rose over the Amuay refinery, among the largest in the world, in video posted on the Internet by people who were nearby at the time. Government officials pledged to restart the refinery within two days and said the country has plenty of fuel supplies on hand to meet domestic needs as well as its export commitments.

Comments

[MoreFreedom]

How sad for those who died and their families.

This is just another example of how government is as an employer in trying to produce goods and services.

It's almost equivalent to situations in facist countries where government decides who can sell in each industry. But at least in facist countries, the politicians can fire owners/managers if the public demands it.

And even many liberals here think our politicians are owned by corporations that back them with campaign cash, but they're wrong since the politicians are the ones with all the power (corporations can't force you to buy their product, only politicians can).

The markets where consenting citizens are freest to engage in capitalist acts, are where workers are safest.