Mexico: Fire at Hermosillo Discount Store Kills at Least 23 Amid Day of the Dead Weekend

A festive holiday weekend turned tragic in northwestern Mexico after a deadly blaze tore through a discount store in central Hermosillo on Saturday, killing at least 23 people and injuring several others.

The fire broke out as families gathered to celebrate the Day of the Dead, one of Mexico’s most cherished cultural holidays. Officials said children were among the victims, and most fatalities were due to inhalation of toxic gases.

Governor Alfonso Durazo has ordered a “thorough and transparent investigation” into the cause of the blaze, while President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed condolences and directed emergency support to assist victims and families.

Authorities said the store, part of the Waldo’s discount chain, was not the target of an attack, and the fire’s cause remains under investigation, with some reports suggesting a possible electrical failure.

More than 40 Red Cross personnel and 10 ambulances were deployed as part of the emergency response.