A tragic fire engulfed a retail store in the Mexican state of Sonora on Saturday, claiming the lives of at least 23 individuals, according to the state’s governor.
The devastating incident occurred in downtown Hermosillo, the capital city of Sonora. Governor Alfonso Durazo confirmed the somber death toll via his official social media, also noting that 11 people suffered injuries and that minors were among the deceased. Local reports pinpointed the affected establishment as a branch of Waldo’s, a prominent discount store chain across Mexico.
Governor Durazo has initiated an official investigation to determine the exact cause of the catastrophic blaze.
The state’s Public Security department released a statement clarifying that they have ruled out any possibility of the fire being a deliberate attack.
This tragedy recalls a similar devastating event in Hermosillo in 2009, when a day care center fire killed 49 children, sparking widespread national outrage. Subsequent investigations revealed that locked emergency exits, the presence of highly flammable materials, and inadequate fire alarms and sprinkler systems were significant contributing factors to that disaster.
Following the 2009 day care fire, over 20 individuals, including the facility’s owners and various municipal, state, and federal officials, were found guilty of negligence and homicide-related charges.