Chávez in Amuay: "The show must go on"

"A philosopher, cannot remember who, said that the show must go on, with our sorrow, grief and dead."

With these words, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez made an appeal to keep on walking in the aftermath of the disaster at Paraguaná Refining Center (CRP). In the small hours of Saturday, two gas tanks exploded, unleashing a ravenous fire that continued on Sunday in two of the nine deposits of Amuay refinery.

The Venezuelan leader visited on Sunday the vicinity of Amuay refinery in support of the victims and to assess the occurrence together with his work team in an attempt at finding a solution.

Chávez claimed to be "very moved" by the victims and their relatives. In addition, he said, "some National Guard officers have not been found," AFP quoted.

Amuay refinery, along with Cardón refinery, forms part of Paraguaná Refining Center, "the biggest in the world," according to Minister of Petroleum and Mining Rafael Ramírez. It processes 955,000 barrels per day of crude oil, AFP reported.