Temascalcingo: At least 10 people were killed and 64 others injured after pyrotechnic material exploded during a patron-saint festival in a town in Mexico State, causing a wall to collapse.
The explosion occurred on Saturday night next to the Nuestra Señora de la Luz church in Temascalcingo, a municipality in central Mexico with a population of around 66,000. Hundreds of people were preparing to watch a fireworks display as part of the religious festival when the blast occurred.
The municipality is about 160 kilometres northwest of Mexico City.
The cause of the explosion has not been determined, and the Mexico State Attorney General’s Office has opened an investigation.
A local bishop said 2 priests were among the injured.
A video shared on social media shows the aftermath of the blast, with dozens of people walking through smoke and debris in search of survivors.
Explosions involving pyrotechnics are relatively common in Mexico, where fireworks are frequently used during street celebrations and religious festivals. Almost 4 years ago, a powerful fireworks explosion in a village in the municipality of Huejutla, in the central state of Hidalgo, left 17 people injured.