MEXICO CITY, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- The number of fatalities in Mexico's tragic pipeline explosion has climbed to 100, the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) said on Thursday.
The death toll climbed after four of the injured in Friday's blast in the central Mexican town of Tlahuelilpan, Hidalgo, died of their wounds late Wednesday and early Thursday.
The victims were being treated at a specialized medical unit in central Mexico State along with a fifth survivor who is still receiving treatment there, while 10 others are hospitalized at two other hospitals run by the IMSS.
"In total, the Social Security Institute continues to provide medical treatment to 11 people injured in the pipeline explosion," the agency said in a statement.
Scores of other victims are receiving treatment at hospitals in central Mexico, and several have been taken to a hospital in the U.S. city of Galveston, Texas that specializes in treating burn victims.
The explosion and an ensuing blaze occurred at a pipeline spot in the community of San Primitivo in the municipality of Tlahuelilpan on Friday.
According to the local government, between 600 and 800 people gathered at the site to collect leaked fuel with containers when the explosion took place.
Authorities said that the pipeline leakage was illegally tapped by fuel thieves, a problem that cost the country some 3 billion U.S. dollars last year.
