Mexico: 29 killed, at least 70 injured in explosion at fireworks market
At least 29 people were killed and around 70 injured after an explosion struck a fireworks market on the outskirts of the Mexican capital, Reuters reported.
The incident occurred at San Pablito fireworks market in Tultepec, 20 miles north of Mexico City.
Acuden 10 ambulancias de @CruzRojaEM con 50 paramédicos al incendio en el mercado de cohetes de #Tultepec. pic.twitter.com/N0VucD83GE
— Cruz Roja Mexicana (@CruzRoja_MX) December 20, 2016
According to Luis Felipe Puente, head of national emergency services, the number of people injured and killed is likely to rise.
Earlier, emergency services had put the death toll at nine, AFP reported.
At least 60 people have been hurt in an explosion at a fireworks market near Mexico City, local media report. https://t.co/WiHVYAj7l3 pic.twitter.com/T24satoqga
— CNN (@CNN) December 20, 2016
"We have a preliminary toll of 70 people injured who are being taken to various emergency rooms, and nine people dead," the federal police said on its Twitter account.
The Mexican Red cross is also present at the site of the explosion trying to provide aid.
Continúan paramédicos de Cruz Roja apoyando en la remoción de escombros tras el incendio en el mercado de #Tultepec pic.twitter.com/J3HTyb9osf
— Cruz Roja Mexicana (@CruzRoja_MX) December 20, 2016
The army has been deployed to help emergency services transport casualties to hospitals by ambulance and helicopter.
The governor of Mexico state, Eruviel Avila, said on Twitter that the priority was to "tend to the injured."
local resident Alejandra Pretel told AFP, "The sound of blasts started to go off and we thought it was a nearby fireworks workshop."
Local television channels showed columns of smoke rising from all the fireworks exploding in different directions.
(WION with inputs from agencies)