2016 San Pablito Market fireworks explosion
2016 Explosion at the San Pablito Market in Tultepec, Mexico From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
On 20 December 2016, a fireworks accident occurred at the San Pablito Market in the city of Tultepec, north of Valley of Mexico.[2][7][8] At least 42 people were killed in the explosion,[4] and dozens injured.[5]
Tultepec has a major fireworks culture and industry,[9] with a two hundred-year history of fireworks production.[10] About 65% of the population of the town is directly or indirectly involved in fireworks production.[10] According to the Instituto Mexiquense de la Pirotecnia, 436 fireworks workshops or retailers were registered in the Tultepec municipality.[10] San Pablito Market is a major center for Mexican handcrafted fireworks.[2] The city had implemented new safety measures in the market following firework-related explosions in 2005 and 2006.[1]
| External videos | |
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 Explosion at Mexico fireworks market, The Guardian. |
The cause of the explosion is unknown, but sources preliminarily claimed that gunpowder from the fireworks ignited the explosion.[3] Up to 300 tonnes of fireworks were reported to have been present at the market.[11] The explosion occurred at approximately 15:00 CST (21:00 UTC).[1] As of 24 December, at least 36 people died,[5] with at least 84 more injured.[5] Of the dead, 26 died at the site of the explosion and the remaining at the hospital.[12] Of the injured, 46 individuals were hospitalized, five of whom were in critical condition.[12]
Six children were among the injured, including a girl with burns to over 90% of her body.[13] Once they were stable and guardians had been contacted, these children were planned to be transferred to Shriners Hospital for Children in Galveston, Texas, United States, to be treated.[13] Nearby homes were damaged significantly[14] and much of the market was leveled in the explosion.[15]
José Manzur, representing the government of the State of Mexico, stated that all funeral and medical bills of those killed and injured will be paid for by the government.[12] President Enrique Peña Nieto offered his condolences and ordered federal agencies to coordinate with state authorities to help the families of those affected, particularly in medical care.[16] Germán Galicia Cortes, the president of San Pablito Market, said that vendors would receive government assistance to help cover their losses, and pledged to re-open the market.[17] The office of the federal attorney general began an investigation into the incident, with forensic investigators deployed to the site on 21 December.[18]
A firefighter extinguishing a fire
People searching through debris
Eruviel Ávila Villegas (far left) and Enrique Peña Nieto visiting an injured person
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- List of fireworks accidents and incidents
- Mexico City fireworks disaster, a 1988 fireworks disaster in Mexico City
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