A devastating explosion and ensuing fire tore through a discount supermarket in downtown Hermosillo, Sonora state, northwestern Mexico, on Saturday, killing at least 23 people including children and injuring a dozen others. The tragedy struck during the country’s Day of the Dead holiday weekend, when shoppers were present in the store.
State officials report that the majority of deaths were caused by inhalation of toxic gases, while the cause of the blast remains under investigation with no clear evidence of foul play.
What happened and the immediate response
The incident occurred at a branch of the local discount-chain Waldo’s in Hermosillo’s city centre in the afternoon. Authorities say the explosion triggered a major blaze inside the store that hampered evacuation efforts. Both the state governor, Alfonso Durazo, and the state attorney general, Gustavo Salas Chávez, confirmed minors among the fatalities and emphasised that preliminary findings point to toxic gas inhalation as the main cause of death.
Emergency rescuers, including the local chapter of the Red Cross, deployed dozens of personnel and multiple ambulances to transport the injured to six hospitals in Hermosillo. Officials say the explosion and fire are not being treated as a deliberate attack, though the exact trigger whether electrical fault, transformer explosion or gas leak-has not yet been determined.
Investigation and broader impact
Governor Durazo has ordered a “thorough and transparent investigation” into the causes of the disaster. Authorities are probing internal store infrastructure such as a transformer or electrical supply-as one possible source of ignition. Although early media reports suggested a possible electrical failure or transformer explosion, no definitive cause has yet been confirmed and all lines of inquiry remain open.
The country’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, issued condolences to the families of the victims and directed federal support to assist the injured and bereaved. Necropsy reports and gas-inhalation analyses are expected to clarify how the blast and fire became so lethal. Meanwhile the local government announced the cancellation of public Day of the Dead celebrations in Hermosillo out of respect for the victims and to aid rescue efforts.
