Tragedy in Mexico as fireworks explode inside church
Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.
At a glance
News
Official statement
Outcome reported
- Fireworks stored in a church warehouse exploded during a festival in Santa María Canchesdá, State of Mexico, killing at least 10 people and injuring more than 60.
- Authorities said the blast occurred Saturday night while hundreds of people attended a patron-saint celebration.
- Fireworks are a longstanding Mexican tradition, but uncontrolled explosions and fires have caused similar tragedies.
At least 10 people died and more than 60 were injured when fireworks exploded inside a church during a patron-saint festival in central Mexico, authorities said Sunday.
The blast occurred Saturday night in Santa María Canchesdá, in the State of Mexico, as hundreds of people gathered for the celebration. The pyrotechnic material had been stored in an area of the parish used as a warehouse, according to a statement from the local government.
Videos released by local media showed the force of the explosion. The incident again drew attention to the dangers surrounding fireworks at popular celebrations in Mexico, where their use remains a longstanding tradition.
Similar tragedies have occurred when fireworks explode unexpectedly during festivities or when fires break out at the usually artisanal factories where the material is produced.
About this summary
Originally published by Diario Libre in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.
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