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21st Dec 2016

Death toll in Mexico fireworks market explosion rises to 31

Alan Loughnane

Very sad.

An which explosion ripped through a fireworks market in the northern outskirts of Mexico City yesterday has left 31 people dead and 70 people injured.

The explosion was caught on camera and shows a huge plume of smoke rising over the town of Tultepec.

Luis Felipe Puente, head of national emergency services, said at least 70 were injured but warned that number could potentially rise.

According to Eruviel Avila, the governor of the state of Mexico, more than a dozen children suffered burns to over 90% of their bodies.

He vowed to find those responsible for the blast and also provide financial assistance to those affected by the explosion.

80% of the stalls in the market were destroyed and the area had been particularly busy over the past number of weeks as the demand for fireworks grew sharply in the run up to Christmas.

Mexican media reported there were 300 tonnes of fireworks at the market at the time of the explosions.

It’s not the first time a disaster such as this has occurred with a similar incident at the San Pablito Market destroying hundreds of stands in September 2006.

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