2 dead in explosion at fireworks warehouse

EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – An explosion at a home that stored gunpowder for fireworks left two people dead, three injured and damaged dozens of homes and cars in Reynosa, Mexico.

According to the Tamaulipas Attorney General’s Office, police and first responders converged on the Modulo 2000 neighborhood around 1 p.m. on Monday following reports of a massive blast initially thought to be caused by a gas explosion.

Local television reports showed chunks of concrete, blown-off car fenders and residents milling about streets assessing damages to their property and leaving the area. A security camera caught a black plume of smoke shooting up followed by a cloud of dust.

“We regret to report the death of two persons because of this incident. Also, three people suffered mild injuries and did not require hospitalization. There were damages to 26 homes and 44 vehicles,” the AG’s Office said in a statement .

Authorities evacuated students and teachers from nearby Secundaria No. 6 middle school as a precaution.

The Tamaulipas Civil Protection Department and the Attorney General’s Office are investigating what triggered the explosion. The blast occurred about a mile south of the Rio Grande and the U.S. border at Hidalgo, Texas.

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