Months after Pemex gas well accident in Mexico, health and pollution concerns grow

Drone footage taken by a Reuters reporter this week showed vast plumes of smoke rising from the well, with scorched earth surrounding the site, trees stripped of leaves and animal bones scattered on the ground.

Marco Palma and his mother, Reina Torres, who live nearby, said they worried about their health and harm to the environment, including livestock they raise. Birds and butterflies seem to be scarce in the area since the accident, they say.

Nearly five months after an accident ignited a fire at a natural gas well in rural Veracruz, Mexico, residents are growing increasingly concerned about potential health and environmental impacts as large volumes of gas continue to burn.

Mexican state energy company Pemex, which operates the well, has said the incident at the Krem-1 exploratory well near Las Choapas began in early March and that the company has since been working to bring the fire under control and permanently seal the well.