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India Kerala: Temple fireworks blast kills at least 100 | India Kerala: Temple fireworks blast kills at least 100 |
(35 minutes later) | |
An explosion and blaze sparked by fireworks have killed at least 100 people at a Hindu temple in the Indian state of Kerala, police say. | An explosion and blaze sparked by fireworks have killed at least 100 people at a Hindu temple in the Indian state of Kerala, police say. |
The fireworks, which were to be used to celebrate a local new year festival, exploded about 03:30 (22:15 GMT Saturday), local media say. | The fireworks, which were to be used to celebrate a local new year festival, exploded about 03:30 (22:15 GMT Saturday), local media say. |
A building at the temple then collapsed, causing many of the deaths. More than 200 people were injured. | A building at the temple then collapsed, causing many of the deaths. More than 200 people were injured. |
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is travelling to the scene. | Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is travelling to the scene. |
The incident in the coastal town of Paravur was "heart-rending and shocking beyond words", he tweeted. | |
As morning broke, hundreds of people arrived at the temple in search of relatives and friends while emergency teams used bulldozers to clear the area in search of survivors. | |
Many of the injured are in critical condition and are being treated at the government medical college in Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital. | |
'Complete chaos' | |
Kerala police chief TP Senkumar said many of the dead were charred beyond recognition and would have to be identified by DNA tests. | Kerala police chief TP Senkumar said many of the dead were charred beyond recognition and would have to be identified by DNA tests. |
Thousands were at the temple complex for the festivities when the explosion happened. | |
Television images showed big clouds of smoke as fireworks went off in the night sky. | |
"Huge pieces of concrete were flying through the air," said resident Jayashree Harikrishnan. "Chunks landed in our yard." | "Huge pieces of concrete were flying through the air," said resident Jayashree Harikrishnan. "Chunks landed in our yard." |
Another witness said the complex had been hit by a power outage after the first explosion, complicating rescue efforts even further. | |
"It was complete chaos," resident Krishna Das told the Associated Press news agency. | |
"People were screaming in the dark. Ambulance sirens went off, and in the darkness no one knew how to find their way out of the complex." | |
Kerala's Home Minister, Ramesh Chennithala, has ordered an investigation, and the state's Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy, is due to visit the scene. | |
The fireworks had been stored ready for celebrations on Thursday of Vishu, a Keralan festival marking the Hindu new year. | The fireworks had been stored ready for celebrations on Thursday of Vishu, a Keralan festival marking the Hindu new year. |
However, the local district magistrate had denied permission for the display to be held this year because of safety concerns and complaints from residents. | However, the local district magistrate had denied permission for the display to be held this year because of safety concerns and complaints from residents. |
The police are planning to take action against the temple administration and the contractors who were putting on the firework display. | The police are planning to take action against the temple administration and the contractors who were putting on the firework display. |
Fireworks and firecrackers are commonly used at temple festivals and other public events and accidents are not uncommon. | Fireworks and firecrackers are commonly used at temple festivals and other public events and accidents are not uncommon. |
Kerala is in the midst of an election for a new state assembly but political parties have called off campaigning as a mark of respect for the victims. | Kerala is in the midst of an election for a new state assembly but political parties have called off campaigning as a mark of respect for the victims. |
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