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Mexico fireworks explosion kills 14 in second incident in months | Mexico fireworks explosion kills 14 in second incident in months |
(about 5 hours later) | |
An explosion at a fireworks warehouse in Mexico has killed at least 14 people, all but three of them children, in a poor Mexican village as it celebrated a religious festival. | |
The blast occurred Monday night in a rural area of central Puebla state, Diodoro Carrasco, a senior official in the state government, told the radio station Cinco Radio. | The blast occurred Monday night in a rural area of central Puebla state, Diodoro Carrasco, a senior official in the state government, told the radio station Cinco Radio. |
He said as many as 11 of the fatalities might be minors. | He said as many as 11 of the fatalities might be minors. |
The explosion in the village of San Isidro, 170 miles (270 km) east of Mexico City, came during preparations for a religious festival on 15 May, the state government said. | The explosion in the village of San Isidro, 170 miles (270 km) east of Mexico City, came during preparations for a religious festival on 15 May, the state government said. |
It said the fireworks had been stored inside a home behind a church ahead of a May 15 religious celebration, and the firecracker that set off the explosion was launched by someone outside. The home was destroyed. | It said the fireworks had been stored inside a home behind a church ahead of a May 15 religious celebration, and the firecracker that set off the explosion was launched by someone outside. The home was destroyed. |
Eleven of those killed “were minors aged between four and 15”, the statement said. | |
Nine people were killed on the spot and five others died later in hospital. | |
The explosion left 22 people injured, including three children who were in serious condition, an official in the state governor’s office, Javier Lozano, told reporters. | |
“It is a tragedy. Most of them died due to the collapse of the building they were in,” he said. | |
“Most of them were killed by being buried.” | |
Army troops and government officials cordoned off the blast site as ambulances rush in to collect the wounded. | Army troops and government officials cordoned off the blast site as ambulances rush in to collect the wounded. |
The state governor, Antonio Gali Fayad, who plans to visit the scene of the accident, expressed his condolences overnight Monday as the scope of the tragedy became clear. | The state governor, Antonio Gali Fayad, who plans to visit the scene of the accident, expressed his condolences overnight Monday as the scope of the tragedy became clear. |
Accidents involving the manufacture of fireworks are common in Mexico. | Accidents involving the manufacture of fireworks are common in Mexico. |
Last December, 42 people died and 70 were injured in a series of spectacular explosions at the country’s largest fireworks market, in the town of Tultepec outside Mexico City. | Last December, 42 people died and 70 were injured in a series of spectacular explosions at the country’s largest fireworks market, in the town of Tultepec outside Mexico City. |
In that catastrophe, the sky filled with multicolored smoke as the San Pablito market echoed with the crack and thunder of exploding fireworks. | In that catastrophe, the sky filled with multicolored smoke as the San Pablito market echoed with the crack and thunder of exploding fireworks. |
The market was filled with people shopping for Christmas and New Year’s festivities. It was reduced to smoldering ruins. | The market was filled with people shopping for Christmas and New Year’s festivities. It was reduced to smoldering ruins. |
Survivors described hellish scenes of people on fire, including children, as they ran from the market. | Survivors described hellish scenes of people on fire, including children, as they ran from the market. |
Investigators believe a rocket exploded at that market and set off a chain reaction of other blasts. | Investigators believe a rocket exploded at that market and set off a chain reaction of other blasts. |
Christmas and New Year’s parties in many Latin American countries often wrap up with a fireworks free-for-all. | Christmas and New Year’s parties in many Latin American countries often wrap up with a fireworks free-for-all. |
The entire Mexican village of Tultepec has specialized in making fireworks since the 19th century. | The entire Mexican village of Tultepec has specialized in making fireworks since the 19th century. |
The San Pablito market had been rocked by two explosions in the past: in September 2005, ahead of the Independence Day holiday, and again the following year. | The San Pablito market had been rocked by two explosions in the past: in September 2005, ahead of the Independence Day holiday, and again the following year. |
Both incidents left dozens of people injured, but no fatalities. | Both incidents left dozens of people injured, but no fatalities. |
The fireworks industry reports nearly $10m a month in revenue in Mexico. | The fireworks industry reports nearly $10m a month in revenue in Mexico. |
Puebla government official Diodoro Carrasco insisted the industry “is perfectly well regulated”, in comments to television channel Milenio. | |
“What is very difficult to supervise is the transfer of the fireworks, whether they are stored correctly,” he said. |
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