2 employees killed, 2 others injured after storage tank explodes at New Mexico oil refinery

2 employees killed in New Mexico oil refinery fire

ARTESIA, N.M. — Authorities say two employees at an oil refinery in southeast New Mexico are dead and two others critically injured after a storage tank exploded into flames.

Artesia police say warning sirens sounded just before 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Navajo Refinery. Emergency crews arrived and were able to contain the fire a short time later.

Authorities say two employees, both from Texas, died from injuries sustained in the explosion. Two other workers were airlifted to the Lubbock Hospital in Texas, where authorities say they remain in critical condition.

No names were released.

Authorities say the explosion’s cause remains unclear. Calls to the Dallas-based company that owns the refinery were not immediately returned Tuesday night.

Information from: KOB-TV, www.kob.com