On February 15, 2017, a Kinder Morgan Tejas pipeline exploded in rural Refugio County, Texas, between Victoria and Corpus Christi, just after midnight; the flames were visible 50 miles (80 km) away. Refugio County Chief Deputy Sheriff Gary Wright said the explosion occurred at an apparent weak point in the pipeline that must have required maintenance, but KM disputed the issue. Residents as far as 60 miles (97 km) away thought it was an earthquake, while others described it as "a thunder roll that wouldn’t end.”. The 36" diameter pipeline the explosion site was 18 miles (29 km) north of Refugio and eight miles (13 km) east of Highway 77. According to the PHMSA incident listing, the cause was unknown, but the explosion and resulting fire caused $525,197 in property damage.