At least 20 people have been reportedly injured after a fireworks explosion during a religious festival in Mexico. The blast happened on Saturday night in the community of Santa María Canchesdá, in the municipality of Temascalcingo, Mexico.
Explosion during patron saint festivities
The explosion occurred during preparations for the community's patron saint festivities, according to local reports. A structure next to the church reportedly collapsed following the blast, with emergency teams sent to the scene to search for and assist people who may have been trapped beneath the rubble.
Local reports initially suggested that more than 30 people could have been injured, although there is currently no confirmed official casualty figure. The local disaster response authorities have been mobilised, with rescue teams carrying out operations at the scene.
Rescue operations and public appeal
Footage circulating on social media appears to show the aftermath of the explosion, with debris scattered around the area and emergency personnel responding to the incident. Authorities have urged members of the public to stay away from the scene to allow emergency crews to reach those affected and carry out rescue operations.
There has been no official confirmation of any fatalities at this stage. Santa María Canchesdá is a community in the municipality of Temascalcingo, in Mexico's State of Mexico. The community is home to the historic Santa María Canchesda church.
Further details are expected as authorities assess the full extent of the damage and confirm the number of people injured.
