Mexico Supermarket Fire: 23 Dead Including Kids as “Safe Haven” Store Catches Fire
Supermarket explosion in Hermosillo, Mexico kills 23, including children, during Day of the Dead.
A catastrophic explosion ripped through a Waldo’s supermarket in central Hermosillo, Sonora, on Saturday afternoon, claiming at least 23 lives—including several children—and leaving 11 others injured. Local authorities confirmed the blast, which occurred around 2:00 p.m., was likely accidental, triggered by a malfunctioning electrical transformer inside the store. What began as a routine weekend shopping trip spiraled into unimaginable tragedy as panicked customers sought shelter inside—only to become trapped by rapidly spreading flames.
Governor Alfonso Durazo, visibly shaken, announced the grim toll in a video statement: “Sadly, a number of the victims were minors.” Survivors, some with severe burns, were rushed to local hospitals. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum swiftly pledged federal support, dispatching Interior Secretary Rosa Icela Rodríguez with a crisis team to aid victims’ families and coordinate relief. “Nobody will face this pain alone,” Durazo vowed, praising the rapid response of firefighters, police, and medical teams who battled the blaze and rescued trapped individuals.
Eyewitness accounts and local media footage painted a nightmarish scene: blackened walls, shattered windows, and thick smoke billowing from the collapsed structure. Mexican outlet El Universal reported that nearby shops shuttered immediately to contain the fire. In a heartbreaking twist, many victims had rushed into the store seeking safety after the initial blast—only to be engulfed as flames roared through aisles. The tragedy forced the cancellation of Day of the Dead festivities across Hermosillo, replacing marigolds and music with mourning.
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Investigators from the Sonora Attorney General’s office have sealed the site, awaiting firefighter clearance for a full forensic probe. “The working hypothesis is an accidental explosion caused by an internal transformer,” prosecutors stated, though accountability remains under scrutiny. Durazo ordered a “transparent and exhaustive” investigation to identify any lapses in safety protocols.
As Hermosillo reels from one of its deadliest accidents in years, the supermarket inferno serves as a chilling reminder: even everyday spaces can become death traps in seconds. For 23 families, a simple errand ended in irreversible loss—turning a day of remembrance into one of unthinkable grief.
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