2016 San Pablito Market fireworks explosion explained

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2016 San Pablito Market fireworks explosion
Time:~15:00 CST (21:00 UTC)
Venue:San Pablito Market
Place:Tultepec, State of Mexico, Mexico
Type:Fireworks accident
Cause:Likely gunpowder explosion
Deaths:42
Injuries:84
Reported Missing:12[1]

On 20 December 2016, a fireworks accident occurred at the San Pablito Market in the city of Tultepec, north of Valley of Mexico.[2] [3] [4] At least 42 people were killed in the explosion,[5] and dozens injured.[6]

Background

Tultepec has a major fireworks culture and industry,[7] with a two hundred-year history of fireworks production.[8] About 65% of the population of the town is directly or indirectly involved in fireworks production. According to the Instituto Mexiquense de la Pirotecnia, 436 fireworks workshops or retailers were registered in the Tultepec municipality. San Pablito Market is a major center for Mexican handcrafted fireworks. The city had implemented new safety measures in the market following firework-related explosions in 2005 and 2006.[9]

Explosion

The cause of the explosion is unknown, but sources preliminarily claimed that gunpowder from the fireworks ignited the explosion.[10] 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). As of 24 December, at least 36 people died, with at least 84 more injured. 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.

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. Nearby homes were damaged significantly[14] and much of the market was leveled in the explosion.[15]

Reaction

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. 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]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Van 33 muertos, 58 heridos y 12 desaparecidos por explosión en Tultepec. es. Proceso. 21 December 2016. 22 December 2016. 22 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161222175427/http://www.proceso.com.mx/467197/van-32-muertos-59-heridos-12-desaparecidos-explosion-en-tultepec. dead.
  2. News: Mexico fireworks market explosion leaves at least 26 dead. Associated Press. The Guardian. 20 December 2016. 20 December 2016. 12 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170912234155/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/20/mexico-fireworks-market-explosion. live.
  3. News: 'Several killed' in Mexico fireworks blast. BBC News. 20 December 2016. 20 December 2016. 13 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170913045416/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-38387239. live.
  4. News: Blast at Mexico fireworks market injures dozens. Nelson. Quinones. CNN. 20 December 2016. 20 December 2016. 13 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170913044101/http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/20/americas/mexico-fireworks-explosion/. live.
  5. Web site: ¿Qué otras explosiones han sucedido en Tultepec?. es. Milenio. 12 September 2017. 4 March 2017. registration. 28 April 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180428114833/http://www.milenio.com/estados/explosiones-sucedido-tultepec-pirotecnia-estado_de_mexico-incendio-milenio_0_869313343.html. live.
  6. Web site: Muere señora herida por explosión en Tultepec; suman 36 fallecidos. es. Proceso. 24 December 2016. 27 December 2016. 13 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170913002320/http://www.proceso.com.mx/467583/muere-senora-herida-explosion-en-tultepec-suman-36-fallecidos. dead.
  7. News: Festival of fire: San Juan de Dios. 21 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161221164321/https://au.news.yahoo.com/sunday-night/features/a/22228813/festival-of-fire-san-juan-de-dios/#page1. 21 December 2016. dead.
  8. Web site: Gudiño. Alondra Ávila y Alejandra. Tultepec: más de 65% de la población depende de la pirotecnia. Milenio. 21 December 2016. registration. 12 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170912235303/http://www.milenio.com/region/Tultepec-poblacion-depende-pirotecnia_0_869913108.html. live.
  9. News: Massive fireworks explosion in Mexico leaves 27 dead and dozens injured. Kitching. Chris. 20 December 2016. Mirror. 21 December 2016. 12 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170912234522/http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/massive-fireworks-explosion-mexican-market-9493185. live.
  10. News: Mexico Explosion Video And Photos: Deaths, Injuries Reported At Tultepec Fireworks Market. 20 December 2016. International Business Times. 21 December 2016. 7 February 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180207090331/http://www.ibtimes.com/mexico-explosion-video-photos-deaths-injuries-reported-tultepec-fireworks-market-2463433. live.
  11. News: Mexico fireworks blast: Dozens killed in Tultepec explosion . BBC . 21 December 2016 . 21 December 2016 . 16 September 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170916190113/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-38387239 . live .
  12. Web site: Velázquez. César. Suman 32 muertos por explosión en Tultepec. Milenio. 21 December 2016. registration. 18 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171018072427/http://www.milenio.com/estados/muertos-aumenta-tultepec-explosion-estado_de_mexico-pirotecnia-milenio-noticias_0_869913130.html. live.
  13. Web site: Trasladarán a niños quemados en Tultepec a Galveston: Michou y Mau. Excélsior. 21 December 2016. 21 December 2016. 24 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161224191209/http://www.excelsior.com.mx/comunidad/2016/12/21/1135567. live.
  14. News: Multiple explosions at a fireworks market north of Mexico City reportedly leave at least 27 people dead. Woody. Christopher. Business Insider. 21 December 2016. 26 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171026111650/http://www.businessinsider.com/fireworks-explosion-in-mexico-2016-12. live.
  15. News: At least 27 dead, 70 injured after explosion rips through fireworks market outside Mexico City. 20 December 2016. CNBC. 21 December 2016. 23 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161223145227/http://www.cnbc.com/2016/12/20/10-dead-after-explosion-rips-fireworks-market-outside-mexico-city-reuters.html. dead.
  16. Web site: Peña Nieto refrenda apoyo a familiares de víctimas en Tultepec. Excélsior. 21 December 2016. 21 December 2016. 22 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161222083549/http://www.excelsior.com.mx/nacional/2016/12/21/1135626. live.
  17. News: Despite Fatal Blast, Mexicans Clamor to Rebuild Fireworks Market. The New York Times. 21 December 2016. 22 December 2016. 22 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161222045044/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/21/world/americas/despite-fatal-blast-mexicans-clamor-to-rebuild-fireworks-market.html. live.
  18. News: Cause of deadly Mexico fireworks blasts still unknown. Reuters. 22 December 2016. 22 December 2016. 24 December 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161224140559/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-mexico-blast-investigation-idUKKBN14A0LQ. live.

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