At least 29 people were killed and more than 70 were injured in an explosion at a Mexican fireworks market on Tuesday.
The cause of the explosion was not immediately known. The town of Tultepec, north of Mexico City, is known for its pyrotechnics industry, and the San Pablito market is popular for its fireworks sales, CNN reported.
Dramatic video posted to social media shows a thick cloud of smoke billowing over the market as several fireworks appeared to go off at once.
A witness told CNN: “Everything shook strongly.” The woman said she hadn’t heard from a family member that worked in the market.
Other witnesses said that people ran for their lives, some tripping amid the panicked frenzy to escape.
Los escombros tras la explosión en @eTultepec / @LaRazon_mx @TraficoReporte @PabloReinah @julioastillero @OpEsMx @webcamsdemexico @ApoyoVial pic.twitter.com/AnzPUZLh7A
— Carlos Jiménez (@c4jimenez) December 20, 2016
Of the 72 who were injure in the blast, three minors were expected to be transferred to a hospital in Galveston, Texas for treatment for extreme burns.
Fireworks accidents are common in Mexico and tend to increase toward the end of the year and during religious festivals, according to a report by Mexico’s National Pedagogic University.
An explosion at the same fireworks market injured several people in 2005 and caused severe damage. A similar fire in the San Pablito Market also destroyed hundreds of stands in 2006, The Associated Press reported.