Mexico City, Dec 20 (DPA) The explosion of an oil pipeline in the central Mexican town of San Martin Texmelucan killed 27 people Sunday and left 52 injured, including five in serious condition.

Mexican Interior Minister Jose Francisco Blake Mora said that 12 children were among the dead in the blast of a pipeline from state-owned energy giant Petroleos de Mexico (Pemex). The explosion destroyed 32 homes and damaged 83 others.

Civil protection officials said 12 of the injured had already been treated and released.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon sent condolences to relatives of the victims of what he described as a "regrettable event".

Calderon noted that the swift actions of Pemex workers, civil protection agents and municipal, state and Army personnel was key to "bringing the fire under control and evacuating residents of the area to safe places". This, he said, made it possible "to prevent an even greater tragedy".