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| India Kerala: Temple fireworks blast kills at least 100 | India Kerala: Temple fireworks blast kills at least 100 |
| (about 1 hour 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. |
| Officials said permits for the display had been refused after safety fears. | Officials said permits for the display had been refused after safety fears. |
| Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is travelling to the scene, in the coastal town of Paravur. On Twitter, he said the incident was "heart-rending and shocking beyond words". | Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is travelling to the scene, in the coastal town of Paravur. On Twitter, he said the incident was "heart-rending and shocking beyond words". |
| 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 looking for survivors. | |
| A team of specialist doctors was being sent from Delhi amid reports of horrific burns suffered by those injured. Many are said to be in a critical condition in several hospitals. | |
| 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, Kerala police chief TP Senkumar said. |
| 'Complete chaos' | |
| Thousands were at the temple complex for the festivities when the explosion happened. | 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. | Television images showed big clouds of smoke as fireworks went off in the night sky. |
| One of the victims was said to be a biker hit by a piece of flying concrete 1km away from the scene. | One of the victims was said to be a biker hit by a piece of flying concrete 1km away from the scene. |
| "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. | 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 Associated Press. | "It was complete chaos," resident Krishna Das told Associated Press. |
| "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." | "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." |
| 'No permission' | |
| The fireworks had been stored ready for celebrations of Vishu, a Keralan festival marking the Hindu new year. | |
| The local district magistrate had denied permission for the display to be held this year because of safety concerns and complaints from residents. | |
| The Kerala government has ordered an investigation, and the police are planning to take action against the temple administration and the contractors who were putting on the display. | |
| "There was no permission to even store the fireworks," Kerala's Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said. | |
| 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. |
| Were you at the temple? Did you witness what happened? If you are safe and able to share your experiences email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Were you at the temple? Did you witness what happened? If you are safe and able to share your experiences email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |