19 killed in Mexico factory blasts
Mexico City, July 6 : Two explosions on Thursday at a small fireworks factory in central Mexico left at least 19 people dead, including firefighters and police officers, and another 40 people injured, authorities said.
The blasts occurred at a facility in Tultepec, a town in central Mexico State known for its fireworks production, Xinhua reported.
The state Civil Protection agency confirmed the number of the dead, originally believed to have been 17, and the state Public Security Secretariat reported at least six of the fatal victims were firefighters or police officers attending to the first blast when the second occurred.
Among the injured were also a police officer and a firefighter, who were airlifted to hospitals in the state capital Toluca, the state government said in a statement. The rest of the wounded were taken to different area hospitals.
In a Twitter post, Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto regretted "the loss of lives in the Tultepec explosion," and expressed his condolences to the families of the victims.
The blasts ripped through a factory in La Saucera, a neighborhood on the outskirts of Tultepec, with the first explosion occurring around 9:30 a.m. local time (14:30 GMT). The second explosion occurred minutes later, after police and rescue workers had arrived to help the victims.
"We deeply regret the deaths, including those of fellow firefighters and police officers who saved many lives in exchange for their own," the state's Red Cross office said via Twitter.
Images taken from a distance of the first blast showed a tall plume of white smoke billowing into the sky, while closer video footage taken after the second blast showed firefighting crews hosing down burnt rubble outside the destroyed factory.
Known as Mexico's "fireworks capital," Tultepec produces some 25 tons of firecrackers and fireworks each year that are sold at markets around the country, especially in the lead up to the Independence Day celebrations in September.
In the past two years, explosions at licensed and makeshift factories, and the local fireworks market, have killed scores.
Barely a month ago, on June 6, seven people were killed, eight injured and nearly 100 homes damaged after an illegal cache of gunpowder exploded.
The worst incident occurred in December 2016, when firecrackers and fireworks were unintentionally set off at one of the market stalls, sparking a chain reaction of explosions that killed 42 merchants and customers.
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West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph suspended after on-field argument with his captain
Bridgetown (Barbados) (AP/PTI): Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph has been suspended for two matches by Cricket West Indies over his very public disagreement with captain Shai Hope over field placements during a one-day international against England.
While West Indies was bowling during the match Wednesday which the Caribbean side won by eight wickets to clinch the three-match series, Joseph left the field in a remarkable protest over the field set by Hope during one of the fast bowler's overs.
Joseph and Hope engaged in a lengthy argument before the fourth over which was bowled by Joseph and had to be urged by the umpires to resume play. After a ball was played away on the off side during the over, Joseph remonstrated angrily with Hope and when the over ended he walked from the field, returning after a short break.
On Thursday, Cricket West Indies said in a statement Joseph's conduct fell short of CWI's “standards of professionalism.”
"Alzarri's behavior did not align with the core values that Cricket West Indies upholds. Such conduct cannot be overlooked, and we have taken decisive action to ensure the gravity of the situation is fully acknowledged," said CWI director of cricket Miles Bascombe.
Joseph also issued an apology.
“I recognize that my passion got the best of me,” Joseph was quoted as saying in the CWI statement.
"I have personally apologized to captain Shai Hope and my teammates and management. I also extend my sincerest apologies to the West Indies fans — understand that even a brief lapse in judgment can have a far-reaching impact, and I deeply regret any disappointment caused.”
With the one-day series concluded, England and the West Indies meet in a five-match Twenty20 series beginning Saturday at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown.
