An explosion rocked the Amuay oil refinery in northwestern Venezuela, killing at least 19 people.

At least 53 were injured, said Gov. Stella Lugo, according to the state-run AVN news agency. “People are very scared,” he said. “They evacuated the areas that had to be evacuated, but the situation, as the technicians are telling within the refinery, is controlled.”

The refinery — one of the world’s largest — is part of the giant Paraguana complex in Falcon state.

Venezuela, a founding member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, is one of the world’s largest oil exporters.

The nation has a refinery capacity of more than 1 million barrels per day, according to the OPEC.

Venezuela’s oil sector is a big part of its economy, making the nation a major player in the global market.

The South American country sends a large percentage of its exports to the United States, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

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