Children are among 23 people who have been killed after a fire ripped through a supermarket in Mexico.
The deadly blaze engulfed a Waldo’s store in Hermosillo, northwestern Mexico, on Saturday, injuring a dozen people. The death toll is expected to rise.
It comes as millions of Mexicans were celebrating the Day of the Dead this weekend with colourful festivities in which families honour and remember deceased loved ones.
Most of the deaths appeared to have been from inhalation of toxic gases, according Gustavo Salas, the state’s attorney general, citing his state’s forensic medical service.
Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s president, said she had directed support teams to be sent to help victims’ families and the injured.
“My heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives,” she said on X.
Alfonso Durazo, governor of the state of Sonora, said he had ordered a “thorough and transparent investigation to clarify the causes of the accident”.
He confirmed that children were among the victims.
Sonora’s Red Cross said its 40 staff and 10 ambulances joined in the effort, making six trips to the hospital.
The cause of the fire, now extinguished, was still unclear, though local media reported that there may have an electrical failure.
City officials said the store, part of popular discount chain Waldo’s, was not the target of an attack.
The chief of the city’s firefighters said it was still being investigated whether there was an explosion.
