A celebration meant to honor a patron saint turned into a scene of chaos and heartbreak this weekend in central Mexico, after pyrotechnic material stored near a church went off and tore through a crowd of worshippers. At least 10 people are dead and 64 more are recovering from injuries after the explosion rocked the community of Santa María Canchesdá, part of the Temascalcingo municipality in the State of Mexico, roughly 100 miles northwest of Mexico City.
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It went down Saturday night, right around 9 p.m., when hundreds of residents had gathered outside the Nuestra Señora de la Luz church for what was supposed to be a fireworks show, a tradition tied to the town’s religious festival. Instead, fireworks material being stored in a room used as a warehouse detonated without warning, according to authorities, causing part of the church to collapse and trap people beneath the debris.
Rescue crews worked straight through the night trying to pull survivors out from under the wreckage. A local bishop confirmed that two priests were among those injured in the blast, showing just how close to the heart of the community this tragedy hit. The injuries reported go beyond your typical scrapes and bruises. Health officials say victims are dealing with traumatic wounds, head injuries, multiple contusions, and first-, second-, and third-degree burns, with several children reportedly among the wounded.
State emergency responders didn’t come alone either. Medical personnel, federal authorities, and military forces set up a joint command post to get the rescue operation organized and make sure no other hazards were lurking at the scene. Meanwhile, the Mexico State Attorney General’s Office has officially opened an investigation, though as of now, the cause of the explosion hasn’t been nailed down.
As the investigation unfolds, one thing’s already clear: this community is going to need more than thoughts and prayers to rebuild what was lost that Saturday night.