Mexico Blast: A fire at a department store in northwestern Mexico on Saturday caused widespread panic. According to reports, at least 23 people were killed in the explosion, including four children. Officials have reported that 12 people were injured in the incident. Sonora Governor Alfonso Durazo shared a video on social media, stating that the fire broke out in Hermosillo, the capital of Sonora. Sonora Attorney General Gustavo Salas Chavez noted that at least 23 people were killed, and the injured were immediately admitted to six hospitals in Hermosillo, where they are receiving treatment.
According to Reuters, emergency services arrived quickly at the scene. The fire sent a thick cloud of smoke billowing into the air. The injured were immediately taken to hospitals, and rescue teams searched for those trapped in the rubble well into the night.
Sonora Governor Alfonso Durazo has stated that several children were among the dead. “Among the bodies we have found, there are many children,” he said in a video. He has ordered an investigation into the cause of the explosion so that those responsible can be brought to justice as soon as possible. Currently, local police have sealed off the area and sent a forensic team to identify the bodies and assess the damage to the building.
Investigation – The investigation revealed that most of the deaths, including those of children, were caused by inhaling toxic gases, not direct impact from the blast. Officials have stated that a full investigation into the explosion is underway. Alfonso Durazo assured the public that the investigation will be conducted with complete honesty and those responsible will be punished.