At least 29 people have been killed after an explosion at Mexico's best-known fireworks market. A huge plume of smoke was seen rising into the sky following the blast.
The explosion ripped through the San Pablito market, Mexico's best-known fireworks market, on the northern outskirts of Mexico City on Tuesday afternoon.
Most of the fireworks stalls were completely leveled. First responders were held back from initial rescue efforts because of ongoing explosions.
Isidro Sanchez, head of the local emergency services in Tultepec, about 32 kilometers (20 miles) north of the capital, said the death toll was preliminary as rescue workers were still scouring the site. A lack of sufficient security measures had likely caused the blast, he said. There had been fires at the market in 2005 and 2006.
National Civil Protection Coordinator Luis Felipe Puente said via social media that 60 people were hurt in the blast. He added that some nearby homes were also damaged and asked people not to come within 5 kilometers of the site to avoid hampering the emergency response. After four hours, rescue teams were still sifting through the debris.
The Mexican Red Cross sent 10 ambulances with 50 paramedics to the scene.
President Enrique Pena Nieto sent his condolences to the families of the dead via Twitter "My condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this accident and my wishes for a quick recovery for the injured."
Pena Nieto is the former governor of the State of Mexico which surrounds the capital where Tultepec is located.
The explosion ripped through the San Pablito market, Mexico's best-known fireworks market, on the northern outskirts of Mexico City on Tuesday afternoon.
Most of the fireworks stalls were completely leveled. First responders were held back from initial rescue efforts because of ongoing explosions.
Isidro Sanchez, head of the local emergency services in Tultepec, about 32 kilometers (20 miles) north of the capital, said the death toll was preliminary as rescue workers were still scouring the site. A lack of sufficient security measures had likely caused the blast, he said. There had been fires at the market in 2005 and 2006.
National Civil Protection Coordinator Luis Felipe Puente said via social media that 60 people were hurt in the blast. He added that some nearby homes were also damaged and asked people not to come within 5 kilometers of the site to avoid hampering the emergency response. After four hours, rescue teams were still sifting through the debris.
The Mexican Red Cross sent 10 ambulances with 50 paramedics to the scene.
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| Scores of people were reported to have been injured in the blast |
President Enrique Pena Nieto sent his condolences to the families of the dead via Twitter "My condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this accident and my wishes for a quick recovery for the injured."
Pena Nieto is the former governor of the State of Mexico which surrounds the capital where Tultepec is located.
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