A fire at a store in the Mexican state of Sonora on Saturday killed at least 23 people, the state’s governor said.
The fire was in downtown Hermosillo, Sonora’s state capital. Alfonso Durazo, the Sonora governor, confirmed the death toll in a video posted to his official social media page. He said 11 others had been injured and that the victims included minors. Local media reported that the fire happened at a branch of Waldo’s, one of the largest discount store chains in Mexico.
Mr. Durazo said he had ordered an investigation into the cause of the fire.
The state’s Public Security department said in a separate statement that it had ruled out any possibility that the fire was the result of an attack
In 2009, a fire at a day care center in Hermosillo killed 49 children and let to national outrage. Investigators later said that sealed emergency exits, flammable materials, and a lack of fire alarms and sprinklers had likely contributed to the tragedy.
More than 20 people were convicted on charges related to the 2009 fire that included negligence and homicide. They included the owners of the facility and officials at the municipal, state and federal levels.
Andrés R. Martínez contributed reporting.
Mike Ives is a reporter for The Times based in Seoul, covering breaking news around the world.
Emiliano Rodríguez Mega is a reporter and researcher for The Times based in Mexico City, covering Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.
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