MEXICO CITY, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- Mexico's state-run energy giant Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex) on Tuesday declared control of a fire that erupted in a deadly rig accident in the Gulf of Mexico in late October.

    The company said in a statement that Pemex is now able to stop and start the fire at will to minimize damage to the environment, which was affected by the leakage of gas and oil after the accident.

    At least 21 workers were killed when a rig crashed into a valve platform at the well Kab-121 on Oct. 23, causing the blaze and releasing natural gas into the atmosphere and oil into the Gulf of Mexico.