at least 19 dead in explosion of fireworks warehouse

At least 19 people were killed on Thursday with several explosions in fireworks warehouses in Tultepec, a city north of Mexico City, with nearly half of the victims being rescuers trapped.

The first explosion took place around 9:30 am, as police and firefighters arrived at the scene and began to take care of the victims, the fire spread to other warehouses causing further explosions.

"We are deeply sorry for the deaths of what were killed this morning in (…) Tultepec, including our firefighters and our police colleagues who lost their lives by saving many others", said the Red Cross of the State of Mexico, where Tultepec is located, in a tweet

Frequent accidents in Mexico

At least 19 people were killed, including a minor, and 40 wounded, announced the Minister of the Interior of the State, Alejandro Ozuna. Among the dead are four firefighters, four municipal policemen and a state policeman, said the Minister of Public Security.

"I was having breakfast when I heard a terrible explosion. running, and then I saw a huge white cloud in the sky, as if it was going to rain, except that today it rained fire, "said Alondra Perez, 62, who lives the other side of the street.

Accidents related to the pyrotechnic industry are frequent in Mexico and especially in Tultepec, where the fireworks traditionally used by Mexicans to celebrate the sacred days are made.

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto offered his condolences to the families of the victims on Twitter, and the state's Minister of the Interior Alejandro Ozuna said that a "comprehensive check" of all the permits of the workshops would be realized.

"We have a way of life and a tradition but we have to send a message to the community and they must understand that it is necessary to regulate all this, for their own safety. ", he declared.