1992 Guadalajara Explosions - Chronology of Events

Chronology of Events

Before the explosions:

• April 19: Residents of Ghent (Gante) Street send reports to the City of Guadalajara, reporting that there is a strong smell of gasoline from the water intakes as well as smoke coming from the sewers.

• April 21: Workers of the council and management of Civil Protection go to Ghent Street to make revisions. They find strong levels of gasoline and other hydrocarbons, but say it is not necessary to evacuate the area.

• April 22:
  • 10:00: The manhole covers begin to bounce and columns of white smoke start coming out of them.
  • 10:05: The first two explosions are recorded, the first in the corner of Calzada Independencia and Aldama street, and the second at the intersection of Ghent and 20 November.
  • 10:06: The first call is received on the 060 and was forwarded to automatic voice messenger.
  • 10:08: Third explosion – a route 333 bus that belongs to the Tuts Company is projected through the air on the corner of Ghent and Nicolas Bravo.
  • 10:12: The fourth explosion is registered in Avenida Gonzalez Gallo.
  • 10:15: Workers from the factories located along Avenida Gonzalez Gallo begin to be evacuated.
  • 10:16: Rescue teams and volunteers arrive in areas affected by the explosions.
  • 10:23: The fifth explosion occurs at the intersection of Ghent and Causeway Army.
  • 10:29: The Mexicaltzingo neighborhood is evacuated.
  • 10:31: The sixth explosion is recorded in the intersection of February 5 and Rio Bravo.
  • 10:43: The seventh explosion occurs at the corner of Ghent Street and Silverio Garcia.
  • 11:00: More rescue teams arrive in the affected areas.
  • 11:02: The eighth explosion occurs at the intersection of Av River Nile and the Rio Grande.
  • 11:03: The Atlas colonies, Alamo Industrial, El Rosario, Quinta Velarde, Fractionation Revolution and the center of the municipality of Tlaquepaque, are evacuated.
  • 11:16: The last two explosions occur one at the intersection of Pecos River and Alamo River, and the other in González Gallo and Suchiate River.
  • After 12:00: The fear of more tragedies occur and people across the metropolitan area begin to uncover the manholes so if there are gases they can escape.
  • 1:38: The residents of neighborhoods like Industrial Zone, March 18, Fresno, July 8, Railroad, The Nogalera, Morelos, Echeverria, Polanco, May 5 and Miravalle are told to be alert to any event that might occur.

After the explosions:

• April 25: Panic in the colonies May 5, the dean, Echeverría and Polanco, firefighters are asked to not light any flames, due to a strong smell of gas, but it was later confirmed it was a leak in a Pemex pipe.