On Tuesday, July 23, 2024, an explosion at the José Cuervo tequila distillery in Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico, resulted in six worker fatalities and injured two others. The blast occurred at approximately 4:30 p.m., when a tank car exploded, launching the tank 656 feet into the air and initiating a large fire.
The Jalisco Civil Defense reported that the explosion led to three containers, each containing around 58,000 gallons of tequila, to ignite. Surveillance footage captured the tank’s propulsion into the air before it ultimately crashed into an unoccupied lot near the La Rojeña Factory. No injuries were reported among tourists or locals in the vicinity of the factory.
Casa Cuervo, the owner of the distillery, expressed its dedication to safety, stating: “The safety and integrity of our collaborators, neighbors, and visitors are our priority. We will reinforce strict security protocols at all our facilities.”
Tequila Mayor Alfonso Magallanes verified to the press that the explosion happened during tank car maintenance when workers were welding. He emphasized the force of the explosion, which was strong enough to send the tank airborne, underlining the severity of the explosion. In response to the incident, several distillery companies have temporarily halted operations as a precautionary measure.
The bodies of the first five victims were located in different areas within the factory. The sixth victim’s body was found in a pit during the debris removal process. Firefighters managed to put out the fire before it reached a fourth container, which held 52,800 gallons of tequila.
On the morning of Wednesday, a second explosion was reported in a storage area that housed cardboard and other materials. No further injuries were reported, and the fire was quickly brought under control by firefighters.
Jalisco state produces nearly 75% of the country’s annual agave crop, the primary ingredient in tequila. The town of Tequila, which is the namesake for the spirit, is a significant tourist destination, drawing over one million visitors each year. The overall effect of the explosion on the local economic and tourism sectors is still unknown.
The United States is the top consumer and importer of tequila from Mexico. In 2023, the U.S. imported over 321 million liters of tequila, greatly exceeding other countries like Spain, which imported around 8.3 million liters. Reflecting this high demand, U.S. tequila imports rose from $1.1 billion to $4.9 billion between 2014 and 2019, adjusted for inflation. California is the leading state for consumption, and Jose Cuervo is the best-selling brand, with 4.81 million 9-liter cases sold in the U.S. in 2021.
Interestingly, both the U.S. and Mexico celebrate National Tequila Day on July 24, the day after the explosion.
In the aftermath of the explosion, local authorities and Casa Cuervo have vowed to implement all necessary measures to prevent similar incidents. “It is important to emphasize that local authorities continue to monitor the situation and work together to guarantee the community’s safety and prevent future incidents,” the Jalisco Civil Defense stated.
