2009 Cataño oil refinery fire
Aerial view of the fire and the resulting smoke cloud | |
| Date | October 23, 2009 |
|---|---|
| Time | 12:23am (AST) |
| Location | Caribbean Petroleum Corporation oil refinery and oil depot Bayamón, Puerto Rico |
| Coordinates | 18°24′59″N 66°07′54″W / 18.4165°N 66.1316°W |
| Also known as | CAPECO explosion |
| Cause | Malfunctioning tank fuel gauge |
| Deaths | 0 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 3 |
| Property damage | Several buildings and oil tanks damaged |
The 2009 Cataño oil refinery fire, also known as the CAPECO explosion, was a fire that began with an explosion on October 23, 2009, and was extinguished on October 25 at the Caribbean Petroleum Corporation (CAPECO) oil refinery and oil depot in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. While the fire and subsequent explosion occurred close to the city of Cataño, it technically occurred within the borders of Bayamón, even though Cataño was more affected by fumes and evacuation. There were no fatalities, but three people were injured.