At least ten people died and 81 others were injured after pyrotechnic material exploded during a patron saint celebration in Temascalcingo, Mexico. The incident occurred Saturday night near the Nuestra Señora de la Luz church in the municipality of Temascalcingo. The blast caused part of a structure next to the church to collapse, trapping some people beneath debris.
Temascalcingo is a municipality with about sixty-six thousand residents located in central Mexico. The municipality is about 160 kilometers, or 100 miles, northwest of Mexico City. Hundreds of people had gathered to watch a fireworks show as part of the religious festival when the explosion happened. By 7 p.m. Sunday, 54 of the 81 people treated for injuries had been discharged, according to the State of Mexico Health Secretariat.
The exact cause of the blast has not yet been determined. Mexican authorities have opened an investigation into what occurred. A local bishop said two priests were among those injured. Firework-related accidents are not uncommon in Mexico where such displays are often part of street celebrations and religious events. This is not the first time such an event has caused serious harm in the country.
In December 2016, an explosion at the San Pablito fireworks market in Tultepec killed 46 people and injured more than 80, according to Mexico’s National Center for Disaster Prevention.
Local coverage included footage showing a traditional “torito,” a bull-shaped pyrotechnic structure, during the celebration. State officials said the blast involved pyrotechnic material stored in a room used as a warehouse next to the church, but investigators had not established what ignited it.
Another explosion occurred nearly four years ago in Huejutla, Hidalgo, which left seventeen people hurt. Authorities are still working to determine what triggered the explosion and what led to the large-scale damage, according to ABC News.