Mexico Fireworks Market Explosion Death Toll Rises to 32

Investigators search for cause of Mexico fireworks factory explosion

Story by NBC
Written by Daniella Silva and Kerry Sanders

The death toll of the massive explosion at Mexico's best-known fireworks market climbed to 32 on Wednesday as authorities worked to identify the dead and treat the dozens injured in the stunning incident.

Of the dead, 26 victims were found at the scene and six died at area hospitals, Mexico state official Jose Manzur said at a press conference Wednesday. Eighteen victims have not yet been identified, Manzur said.

The explosion occurred at the open-air San Pablito market in Tultepec, in the State of Mexico. Officials said Wednesday that 59 people were wounded during the blasts with 46 still hospitalized.

At the press conference officials mentioned one hospitalized young girl by name, 13-year-old "Pamela," who they said had burns over 90 percent of her body. Authorities were hoping to get her to the United States for treatment.

Officials added that five of the injured were still in grave condition.

Twelve-year-old witness Yahir David Sanchez Ortega said he was outside and going to buy something when the first stand began to explode and "all the bricks from the fireworks market started flying."

Sanchez Ortega said he saw people "running with blood on their heads" and screaming for help.

"Everything was exploding until you went deaf, where you couldn't hear all the noise," he said.

"I felt like the roof was going to cave and crush my head."

"I thought I was going to die," he said.

Video of the blast showed an arsenal of fireworks exploding at the market and a massive plume of smoke enveloping the area, just outside of Mexico City. Officials have not yet given a cause for the explosions.

Mexico has a history of fireworks explosions in market areas, including two prior explosions in Teltepec. In one Dec. 12, 1988 incident, at least 62 people were killed in the La Merced market in Mexico City.