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Fuel tanker continues to burn off Mexico’s Gulf coast

A firefighting boat works to extinguish a fire aboard the tanker Burgos about seven nautical miles off the coast of the port city of Boca del Rio, Mexico, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. The tanker was carrying about 168,000 barrels of gasoline and diesel fuel. Mexico's Navy rescued 31 crew members and no injuries were reported. There were no immediate reports of fuel spills and the cause of the fire was unknown. (AP Photo/Ilse Huesca)
A firefighting boat works to extinguish a fire aboard the tanker Burgos about seven nautical miles off the coast of the port city of Boca del Rio, Mexico, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. The tanker was carrying about 168,000 barrels of gasoline and diesel fuel. Mexico's Navy rescued 31 crew members and no injuries were reported. There were no immediate reports of fuel spills and the cause of the fire was unknown. (AP Photo/Ilse Huesca)

By Associated Press 2 min read

MEXICO CITY (AP) – A fuel tanker continued to burn off the Gulf coast of Mexico on Sunday, a day after it erupted in flames.

Firefighting boats were battling the blaze aboard the Burgos, which is owned by state oil company Petroleos Mexicanos, or Pemex. A large plume of smoke from the burning ship could be seen from the port of Veracruz.

Firefighters have been using a chemical extinguisher against the fire, according to the Veracruz Port Authority. They declined to speculate late Saturday on when the fire may be put out.

Mexico’s environmental protection agency, Profepa, said Sunday in a statement that a mile (1 ½ kilometers) of containment booms were deployed to prevent any fuel from reaching the coast.

Pemex said fuel seen on the water was what mixed with the water used to fight the fire and will dissipate. The Burgos was carrying about 168,000 barrels of gasoline and diesel.