Tragic Fireworks Explosion Kills At Least 10 and Wounds 60 During Festival in Central Mexico

A devastating fireworks explosion during a village festival in central Mexico has left at least 10 people dead and at least 60 others wounded, local government officials reported.

Footage captured revellers participating in a local ritual in Santa Maria Canchesda, located in the Temascalcingo municipality, where they carried a straw bull shooting out fireworks. According to the AFP news agency, the Saturday celebration took a catastrophic turn when the burning bull seemingly ignited a larger stash of fireworks stored in the village church.

The powerful blast caused walls to collapse and sparked a major fire in the town square. Local media outlets indicated that several individuals became trapped beneath the debris left by the explosion.

The diocese of the nearby municipality of Atlacomulco confirmed that two priests sustained injuries in the incident but are anticipated to recover. In a social media statement, the diocese expressed its condolences, stating, “We join together in prayer for those who have lost their lives, their families and loved ones, as well as those who were injured and all those who are experiencing moments of pain and worry today.”

Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office announced that an official investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the blast.

Tragically, fireworks-related accidents have a history of causing fatalities in Mexico. Previous major incidents include a July 2018 explosion that claimed 24 lives at a fireworks factory in Tultepec, situated north of Mexico City, and a 2016 market blast in the same city that resulted in 42 deaths.