03 July 2026
An explosion on a PDVSA-operated drilling rig in Venezuela’s Apure state has injured 17 workers, two of whom later died from their injuries, according to sources. The cause of the incident remains under investigation.
Image: Shutterstock
The explosion occurred late on 28 June 2026 at the Colven 02 drilling rig in the Los Llanos region of Apure state, where emergency response procedures were initiated following a fire on the installation.
According to sources, workers with burn injuries were evacuated for treatment at medical facilities in both Venezuela and neighbouring Colombia. Images and video circulating after the incident showed flames and dense black smoke rising from the rig following the blast.
Neither PDVSA nor the Venezuelan authorities had issued a detailed public statement on the circumstances surrounding the explosion at the time of writing. No official findings have been released regarding the initiating event, ignition source or the extent of damage to the drilling installation.
The incident is the latest in a series of industrial accidents involving Venezuela’s oil and gas infrastructure. However, investigators have not linked this event to any broader operational or maintenance issues, and the cause of the explosion remains under investigation.
Contact Details and Archive…