Fire, explosion at store in northwestern Mexico leave at least 23 dead, dozen injured

A fire and explosion at a Waldo’s convenience store in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, killed at least 23 people, including children, and injured 12 others. Authorities suspect toxic gas inhalation as the cause of death and are investigating the incident’s origin 

Mexico City: A fire and explosion at a convenience store in northwestern Mexico on Saturday killed at least 23 people, including children, and injured 12 others, state authorities said. The fire occurred in downtown Hermosillo, the capital of Sonora state, Sonora Gov. Alfonso Durazo said in a video posted on social media.

Sonora Attorney General Gustavo Salas Chávez provided the death toll and said the injured were taken to six hospitals in Hermosillo.

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Salas Chávez said preliminary investigations showed the deaths were caused by “inhalation of toxic gases.” “At this time we have no indication that leads us to presume the fire was intentional,” he said, noting authorities had not ruled out any line of investigation.

Images circulating on social media show a massive fire engulfing the Waldo’s store. One video showed a burned man collapsing onto the asphalt a few metres (yards) from the store entrance.