The cause of the blast on Tuesday that struck the San Pablito open-air market in Tultepec, about 20 miles (30 km) north of Mexico City, several days before Christmas, remained unknown.
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21/12/2016
10:32
A series of massive explosions destroyed a fireworks market outside the Mexican capital on Tuesday, killing at least 31 people, injuring dozens and leaving the market a charred wasteland.
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09:02
At least 29 people died in the San Pablito fireworks market explosion in Tultepec, State of Mexico Governor Eruviel Avila Villegas said.
Earlier in the day, State of Mexico chief prosecutor Alejandro Gomez said the death toll was 26 people. The state governor Avila Villegas specified that 26 died at the site of the explosion, while three others died of injuries in hospital. Speaking at a press conference, the governor added that a total of 72 people were injured in the blast. On Tuesday, a major explosion shook a fireworks market in the city of Tultepec near Mexico City. Emergency services initially said some 70 people were injured but did not state whether anyone died. Later reports said 16 people died, citing the local fire department.
Tultepec is renowned for being a center for fireworks production in Mexico. San Pablito is a major fireworks market with some 300 stores. Around 2,000 people were on the site during the explosion ahead of Christmas celebrations.
The explosion reportedly took place inside one of the stores before spreading to others, with nearly all destroyed as a result of the incident. State of Mexico Civil Protection warned people against approaching the site after a mass panic with people fleeing their homes in the wake of the explosion.
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