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| 'Everything was destroyed': Mexico reels after fireworks market explosion 'Everything was destroyed': Mexico reels after fireworks market explosion | |
| (7 days later) | |
| Forensic investigators are scouring the charred remains of a fireworks market outside Mexico City after a powerful chain-reaction explosion ripped through its stalls, killing at least 31 people and leaving dozens more badly burned. | Forensic investigators are scouring the charred remains of a fireworks market outside Mexico City after a powerful chain-reaction explosion ripped through its stalls, killing at least 31 people and leaving dozens more badly burned. |
| The third such blast to ravage the market on the northern outskirts of Mexico’s capital since 2005 sent up a towering plume of smoke that was lit up by a staccato of bangs and flashes of light. Once the smoke cleared, the open-air bazaar was reduced to a stark expanse of ash, rubble and the charred metal of fireworks stands, casting a pall over the country’s Christmas season. | The third such blast to ravage the market on the northern outskirts of Mexico’s capital since 2005 sent up a towering plume of smoke that was lit up by a staccato of bangs and flashes of light. Once the smoke cleared, the open-air bazaar was reduced to a stark expanse of ash, rubble and the charred metal of fireworks stands, casting a pall over the country’s Christmas season. |
| Authorities have not yet said what may have caused the explosions which took place in Mexico state, which rings the capital. | Authorities have not yet said what may have caused the explosions which took place in Mexico state, which rings the capital. |
| Mexico state health officials said about 60 people were hospitalized for injuries from Tuesday’s explosion, including for severe burns, in some cases over 90% of their bodies. On Wednesday, 47 people remained hospitalized, among them 10 children. | Mexico state health officials said about 60 people were hospitalized for injuries from Tuesday’s explosion, including for severe burns, in some cases over 90% of their bodies. On Wednesday, 47 people remained hospitalized, among them 10 children. |
| Mexico state chief prosecutor Alejandro Gómez said on Wednesday that the death toll had risen to 31, after several people died at local hospitals, and 70 people were injured. | Mexico state chief prosecutor Alejandro Gómez said on Wednesday that the death toll had risen to 31, after several people died at local hospitals, and 70 people were injured. |
| Gómez said some of the dead were so badly burned that neither their ages nor their genders could be immediately determined. He said the toll could rise because 12 people were listed as missing and some body parts were found at the scene. | Gómez said some of the dead were so badly burned that neither their ages nor their genders could be immediately determined. He said the toll could rise because 12 people were listed as missing and some body parts were found at the scene. |
| Investigators were studying burnt human remains at the site, but were not sure if they belonged to individuals already confirmed dead, Gómez said. | Investigators were studying burnt human remains at the site, but were not sure if they belonged to individuals already confirmed dead, Gómez said. |
| A list of the nine bodies identified so far showed the dead included a three-month-old baby boy and a 12-year-old girl. Gómez said a total of seven male minors were among the dead. | A list of the nine bodies identified so far showed the dead included a three-month-old baby boy and a 12-year-old girl. Gómez said a total of seven male minors were among the dead. |
| Survivor Crescencia Francisco Garcia said she was in the middle of the grid of stalls when the thunderous explosions began. She froze, reflexively looked up at the sky and then took off running through the smoke once she realized everyone was doing so. As she ran she saw people with burns and cuts, and lots of blood. | Survivor Crescencia Francisco Garcia said she was in the middle of the grid of stalls when the thunderous explosions began. She froze, reflexively looked up at the sky and then took off running through the smoke once she realized everyone was doing so. As she ran she saw people with burns and cuts, and lots of blood. |
| “Everything was catching fire. Everything was exploding,” Francisco said. “The stones were flying, pieces of brick, everything was flying.” | “Everything was catching fire. Everything was exploding,” Francisco said. “The stones were flying, pieces of brick, everything was flying.” |
| Mexico state governor Eruviel Avila vowed: “We are going to identify who is responsible.” | Mexico state governor Eruviel Avila vowed: “We are going to identify who is responsible.” |
| Sirens wailed and a heavy scent of gunpowder lingered in the air well after the thunderous explosions at the market, which were widely seen in a dramatic video. The smoking, burned out shells of vehicles ringed the perimeter, and first responders and local residents wearing blue masks over their mouths combed through the ash and debris. Firefighters hosed down still-smoldering hotspots. | Sirens wailed and a heavy scent of gunpowder lingered in the air well after the thunderous explosions at the market, which were widely seen in a dramatic video. The smoking, burned out shells of vehicles ringed the perimeter, and first responders and local residents wearing blue masks over their mouths combed through the ash and debris. Firefighters hosed down still-smoldering hotspots. |
| “Everything was destroyed. It was very ugly and many bodies were thrown all over the place, including a lot of children. It’s the worst thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” said Angelica Avila, 24, tears running down her face. Avila spoke outside a nearby hospital as she waited for an update on the health of her brother, a fireworks salesman, who she said was burned and also suffered a heart attack. | “Everything was destroyed. It was very ugly and many bodies were thrown all over the place, including a lot of children. It’s the worst thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” said Angelica Avila, 24, tears running down her face. Avila spoke outside a nearby hospital as she waited for an update on the health of her brother, a fireworks salesman, who she said was burned and also suffered a heart attack. |
| Tultepec mayor Armando Portuguez Fuentes said the market was especially well stocked because demand for noisy firecrackers and rockets soared this time of year. | Tultepec mayor Armando Portuguez Fuentes said the market was especially well stocked because demand for noisy firecrackers and rockets soared this time of year. |
| “We are obviously in the high season,” Portuguez said. “There was more product than usual because we are a few days away from Christmas, a few days away from New Year’s, and those are the days when the products made here are consumed the most.” | “We are obviously in the high season,” Portuguez said. “There was more product than usual because we are a few days away from Christmas, a few days away from New Year’s, and those are the days when the products made here are consumed the most.” |
| Cesar Ornelas of Atizapan de Zaragoza was only 10 minutes into shopping with his son and his father when he heard the first explosions. He tried to run, but something knocked him to the ground from behind. He tried several times to get up, unsuccessfully, and ultimately his 15-year-old son Francisco had to drag him out. | Cesar Ornelas of Atizapan de Zaragoza was only 10 minutes into shopping with his son and his father when he heard the first explosions. He tried to run, but something knocked him to the ground from behind. He tried several times to get up, unsuccessfully, and ultimately his 15-year-old son Francisco had to drag him out. |
| “We didn’t look back,” said Ornelas, who suffered light burns and a large bruise over his left kidney. His white tank top had a fist-size burn on the chest. “We heard how the explosion was kind of going off bit by bit.” | “We didn’t look back,” said Ornelas, who suffered light burns and a large bruise over his left kidney. His white tank top had a fist-size burn on the chest. “We heard how the explosion was kind of going off bit by bit.” |
| Nearly four hours later, he and Francisco limped gingerly out of the market area. Francisco said paramedics told him his leg was probably fractured by flying debris. Ornelas said his 67-year-old father, Ernesto, had run in a different direction and sought refuge in a nearby home. All the father’s clothing was burned, and his face and arm were bloodied. An ambulance had spirited him to a hospital, but Ornelas wasn’t sure where it was or how serious his injuries were. | Nearly four hours later, he and Francisco limped gingerly out of the market area. Francisco said paramedics told him his leg was probably fractured by flying debris. Ornelas said his 67-year-old father, Ernesto, had run in a different direction and sought refuge in a nearby home. All the father’s clothing was burned, and his face and arm were bloodied. An ambulance had spirited him to a hospital, but Ornelas wasn’t sure where it was or how serious his injuries were. |
| A similar fire engulfed the San Pablito market in 2005, touching off a chain of explosions that levelled hundreds of stalls just before Mexico’s Independence Day. A year later, a similar accident at the same market also destroyed hundreds of stands. | A similar fire engulfed the San Pablito market in 2005, touching off a chain of explosions that levelled hundreds of stalls just before Mexico’s Independence Day. A year later, a similar accident at the same market also destroyed hundreds of stands. |
| In an editorial Wednesday, the newspaper El Universal called it “the traditional tragedy”, noting: “Our country’s fascination with fireworks has caused, among other things, a long series of accidents with terrible results.” | In an editorial Wednesday, the newspaper El Universal called it “the traditional tragedy”, noting: “Our country’s fascination with fireworks has caused, among other things, a long series of accidents with terrible results.” |
| Portuguez, the Tultepec mayor, said the manufacture and sale of fireworks was a key part of the local economy. He added that it was regulated by law and under the “constant supervision” of the defense department, which oversees firearms and explosives. | Portuguez, the Tultepec mayor, said the manufacture and sale of fireworks was a key part of the local economy. He added that it was regulated by law and under the “constant supervision” of the defense department, which oversees firearms and explosives. |
| “This is part of the activity of our town. It is what gives us identity,” Portuguez said. “We know it is high-risk – we regret this greatly, but unfortunately many people’s livelihoods depend on this activity.” | “This is part of the activity of our town. It is what gives us identity,” Portuguez said. “We know it is high-risk – we regret this greatly, but unfortunately many people’s livelihoods depend on this activity.” |