Some 53 more were injured in the explosion, which rocked the Amuay refinery in the early hours of Saturday morning, damaging the facility and nearby buildings.
Among the dead is a 10-year-old boy, said Stella Lugo, the governor of Falcon region where the refinery is located.
Officials said the blast originated in a gas leak. "It was a significant explosion, there is appreciable damage to infrastructure and houses opposite the refinery," Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez was quoted as saying.
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