Venezuelan Refinery Explodes

A reported 39 people have died after an explosion at Venezuela’s largest oil refinery. President Hugo Chávez has called for three national days of mourning, demanding a probe into the blast that also wounded 80. “I want to send out to the families of those who died, civilians, and military, all our pain, mine, that of all my family, everyone in the national government, and the people of Venezuela,” Chávez said. Eighteen National Guard members stationed at the refinery were among the deceased, said Venezuelean Vice President Elias Jaua. Fifteen of the victims were civilians.