14 DAY TRIAL // Seven employees at a Grupo Modelo brewery in Mexico have died on the job on Sunday, April 7. The incident took place early in the morning at the Cervecería Modelo facility in Mexico City.
Francisco Lopez Bravo, the manager at the facility clarified that the seven workers were inside a tank, performing cleaning services when they were locked in.
According to Christian Post, some local reports reveal that their deaths are related to the inhalation of toxic vapors.
While company spokeswoman Jennifer Shelley is not confirming the toxic fume claims, she mentions the deaths being an accident.
“Early in the morning of April 7, we had an accident at Cervecería Modelo in Mexico City, which occurred in a confined area in a tank in which cleaning and upkeep works were being done.
“Unfortunately the accident resulted in seven deaths,” the Grupo Modelo rep says in a statement.
The facility is a local landmark, which was founded in 1925, as the first brewery owned by Grupo Modelo. The location is used for the preparation of Corona, the most successful beer import to the United States.
The family business is in the process of being sold to Anheuser-Busch InBev which already owns half of its shares, News Australia notes. AB InBev's brand portfolio also includes popular beers Stella Artois, Becks and Budweiser.
Grupo Modelo have expressed their condolences to the workers’ families, suggesting that they would be compensating them, Guardian Express writes.
“Modelo is deeply sorry for this incident and will support the affected families permanently,” their statement reads.
Operations at the plant have been resumed the same day with no other employees harmed in the process. There were no environmental concerns as a result of the accident, Shelley has added.