By Natalia Rueda 
Tlalchapa, Guerrero — Tlalchapa, Guerrero — A devastating explosion rocked the small town of Tlalchapa, Guerrero, on Thursday, during the annual celebration of the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe, injuring at least 30 people, many of them seriously. The explosion, which occurred in a local church filled with worshippers, has raised renewed concerns over the safety of fireworks and explosives used during public celebrations in Mexico.
The explosion, which occurred when a candle ignited gunpowder stored inside the church, caused catastrophic damage to the building and left several victims with severe burns and injuries from flying debris. Of the 30 injured, 16 are in critical condition, including three children. One of the young victims, a minor, suffered catastrophic burns and tragically lost a limb in the explosion.
The injured were quickly attended to by first responders from the Secretaría de Gestión Integral de Riesgos, who worked in coordination with local authorities to transfer the victims to nearby hospitals. Due to the seriousness of their injuries, some were airlifted to medical centers in Toluca, State of Mexico, for advanced treatment.
💥#Tlalchapa | La madrugada de este jueves se registró una explosión masiva de pirotecnia al interior de una capilla en Tlalchapa donde se celebraba el Día de la Virgen, hecho que dejó un saldo de al menos 30 personas heridas, entre ellos tres menores.
— Meganoticias IXT (@MeganoticiasIXT) December 12, 2024
📲https://t.co/H3yDgL1D1h pic.twitter.com/0UZ8sbfxkx
The incident occurred after a candle ignited stored gunpowder inside the church. The explosion caused severe burns and injuries from flying debris, while others suffered hearing damage from the shockwave. As many as three individuals remain in critical care, with several others being treated for minor burns and injuries in nearby medical facilities.