1 dead, dozens hurt in fireworks explosion

The Associated Press, Mexico | World | Sun, March 17 2013, 6:35 AM

A truck loaded with fireworks exploded during a religious procession in a rural village in central Mexico, killing at least 13 people and injuring 154, authorities said.

The blast Friday was set off when a firework malfunctioned and landed on the truck, igniting the fireworks it carried, officials said. Seventy people were burned or had other injuries authorities in the neighboring states of Tlaxcala and Puebla said.

"They were in a procession, they were shooting off rockets and one exploded and fell onto the others," said Jose Mateo Morales, director of the Tlaxcala state civil protection department. "It was very serious."

Human remains and burned clothes were spread around a 100-meter radius, including on rooftops, a photographer at the scene said.

The victims were marching in an annual procession in honor of Jesus Christ, the patron saint of Jesus Tepactepec, a village of about 1,000 people, Mateo Morales said.

At least one child was among the victims, Tlaxcala Govenor Mariano Gonzalez said.