A Mexican state oil tanker broke out in flames on Saturday (24 September) forcing its 31 crew members to be rescued by Mexico's Navy.

The blaze on the Pemex-owned Burgos tanker occurred off the coast of Boca del Rio in Veracruz.

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The company confirmed firefighters were still struggling to put out the flames the evening after the blaze began.

Images on Twitter showed the vessel engulfed in clouds of black smoke as firefighting boats tried to tackle the blaze seven nautical miles off the coast.

The ship was carrying 80,000 barrels of diesel and 70,000 barrels of gasoline, Mexico's Communications and Transport Ministry said.

There were no immediate reports of fuel spills.

The incident is the latest in a series of failures by the Mexican state oil firm which is grappling with major losses, increased competition, sharp budget cuts and reduced revenue due to oil prices.

In April, more than 30 people died and dozens sustained injuries after an explosion at a petrochemical plant in south-east Veracruz state, a joint venture between Pemex and another firm.

In 2013, 37 people were killed by a blast at Pemex's Mexico City headquarters, and 26 people died in a fire at a natural gas facility owned by the company in northern Mexico in 2012.

A 2015 fire at a Pemex platform in the Bay of Campeche affected oil output and cost the company up to $780m (£601.64m)