Mexican police investigate deadly pipeline blast

A massive oil pipeline explosion in a central Mexican town has left at least 27 people dead and more than 50 others injured, officials said Sunday.

The incident happened in the town of San Martin Texmelucan on Sunday morning The pipeline hit by explosion belongs to state-owned energy giant Petroleos de Mexico (Pemex). The fire resulting from the explosion has since been extinguished, according to RTT News.

Authorities, including President Felipe Calderon, said the explosion was apparently caused by thieves trying to steal crude oil, and local, state and federal agencies promised to stop at nothing to bring whoever is responsible to justice. There were no immediate arrests.

The blast in San Martin Texmelucan, initially estimated to have affected 5,000 residents in a three-mile (five-kilometer) radius, left metal and pavement twisted and in some cases burned to ash in the intense heat, The Associated Press reports.