At least 23 people, including children, were killed and a dozen others injured after a fire and explosion ripped through a convenience store in northwestern Mexico on Saturday, authorities said.
The deadly blaze broke out in downtown Hermosillo, the capital of Sonora state, Governor Alfonso Durazo confirmed in a video message shared on social media.
Sonora’s Attorney General Gustavo Salas Chávez said 12 injured victims were taken to six different hospitals in Hermosillo for treatment. He added that initial findings suggested most deaths resulted from inhaling toxic fumes.
“So far, there is no evidence indicating that the fire was deliberately set,” Salas Chávez said, adding that investigators were still examining all possible causes.
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Videos shared on social media showed flames engulfing the Waldo’s store, sending thick plumes of smoke into the air. One distressing clip captured a severely burned man collapsing on the road just meters away from the store entrance.
Authorities said rescue operations and a detailed investigation into the cause of the explosion are ongoing.
Source: AP