Man dead, 2nd missing in refinery blast

ARTESIA, N.M. (KBIM-KRQE) - One contract worker was killed and a second is presumed dead in an explosion and fire that critically injured tow other workers at the Navajo Refinery in Artesia Tuesday.

Artesia police identified the dead men as Natividad Andajo of Odessa, Texas, and Victor Villa of Midland, Texas. Both worked for Northwest Insulation of Texas.

The two injured men both worked for the company that was installing insulation on an asphalt tank. Their names have not been released.

The fire broke out about 1 p.m., and it took the refinery fire force about 90 minutes to extinguish it. The refinery was evacuated, but surround neighborhoods were not.

The refinery is just east of downtown Artesia.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Holly Corporation, which operates the refinery, issued a statement saying and refinery operations are not disrupted by the incident.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Initial reports had described the tank as a water tank.