At least 100 people were injured and an unknown number are trapped in rubble¹ at the base of the 54-storey tower. The search for survivors² continues.

 

The cause of the blast is under investigation³, Pemex says.

 

Last September, 30 people died in an explosion at a Pemex gas plant in northern Mexico.

 

Thursday's explosion in the lower floors of the building happened as shifts were changing in the afternoon, making the area particularly crowded.

 

Television pictures showed debris⁴ from the blast spread out on to the street in front of the building, and Red Cross ambulances on the scene attending to the injured.Hundreds of rescuers helped by dogs are searching the building for around 30 people thought to be trapped inside.

 

Police have cordoned⁵ off（封锁，隔离） the streets around the building, which is located in a busy commercial area of Mexico City.

 

Pemex says its operations will continue to run normally - and commercial and financial obligations will continue to be met - despite the blast.

 

The company's chief executive, Emilio Lozoya Austin, cut short a business trip to Asia and was on his way back to Mexico, a Pemex statement said.

 

Relatives of employees have gathered outside the building in search of information about their loved ones, local media report. Some are said to have tried to reach employees on their mobile phones but have had no reply.

 

"The place shook, we lost power and suddenly there was debris everywhere. Colleagues were helping⁶ us out of the building," eyewitness⁷ Cristian Obele said.

 

"We were talking and all of sudden we heard an explosion with white smoke and glass falling from the windows," another witness said.

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