Death toll in Mexico's Pemex plant explosion climbs to 24

COATZACOALCOS, Mexico, April 22 (UPI) -- The death toll in a Mexican petrochemical plant explosion has climbed to 24, authorities said

At least 100 people were injured in Wednesday's explosion at Petroquimica Mexicana de Vinilo, a joint venture between the petrochemical consortium Mexichem and state oil firm Pemex. The vinyl chloride plant is located in the southern state of Veracruz. The explosion happened in the facility's chlorinate 3 plant. The cause remains under investigation.

Surrounding neighborhoods were evacuated after the blast that could be felt up to six miles away.

In the past years, dozens of people have been killed or injured at Pemex plants throughout Mexico. In 2013, at least 37 people were killed in an explosion at the Pemex headquarters in Mexico City. In April 2015, four people died in an oil rig fire.