At least 10 people were killed and 64 others sustained injuries after an explosion involving pyrotechnic material occurred during a religious festival in the State of Mexico. The incident took place on Saturday night in the municipality of Temascalcingo, located approximately 160 kilometers, or 100 miles, northwest of Mexico City.
The blast happened near the Nuestra Señora de la Luz church, where hundreds of residents had gathered to participate in a celebration for a patron saint. The force of the explosion was significant enough to cause a wall to collapse among the crowd. A local bishop confirmed that two priests are among those who were injured in the incident.
Footage shared on social media in the aftermath of the explosion captured scenes of people navigating through smoke and debris in an effort to locate survivors. The Mexico State Attorney General’s Office has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the explosion, which remains unknown at this time.
Fireworks are frequently utilized in street celebrations and religious festivals across Mexico, and accidents involving pyrotechnics are not uncommon. Nearly four years ago, a similar event in a village within the municipality of Huejutla, in the state of Hidalgo, resulted in 17 injuries.
