Several explosions believed to be detonated by saboteurs damaged natural-gas pipelines belonging to Mexico's state oil monopoly early Monday, the company said. There were no reports of injuries. Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) issued a statement saying it believed the explosions, which happened about 2 a.m. local time and forced the evacuation of 12,000 people, were deliberate. Four of the explosions produced fires, which Pemex said were under control, and at least five pipelines were affected. In July, a small left-wing guerrilla group claimed to have attacked a major Pemex gas pipeline extending from central Mexico City to Guadalajara. Those attacks forced several major companies, including Honda, Kellogg, and the Hershey Company, to suspend or reduce operations, and forced the Mexican government to increase security at “strategic installations” across the country. It was not clear what security measures were in place at the pipelines that exploded Monday. Except for small businesses prevented from opening by the evacuations, there did not appear to be an major effect on area businesses.
