MEXICO CITY — A devastating fire tore through a discount store in the northwestern city of Hermosillo on Saturday, killing at least 23 people and injuring several others amid Mexico’s Day of the Dead celebrations.
Authorities said the blaze erupted at a Waldo’s store in the city centre, with most victims dying from inhalation of toxic gases. Governor Alfonso Durazo of Sonora confirmed that children were among the dead and ordered a transparent investigation to determine the cause of the tragedy.
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President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed condolences to the victims’ families and directed emergency teams to provide assistance. “My heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives,” she said in a post on X.
The Sonora Red Cross dispatched 40 personnel and 10 ambulances to the scene, while forensic teams continued to assess the extent of the damage. Local officials said the fire was not an attack, though early reports suggest it may have been triggered by an electrical fault.
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Firefighters brought the blaze under control after several hours and are investigating whether an explosion occurred inside the store.