A fire at a Waldo’s supermarket in Hermosillo, Mexico, killed 23 people and injured about a dozen; officials warn the toll may rise. Most victims likely died from inhaling toxic gases, the state attorney general said. President Claudia Sheinbaum ordered support teams for victims’ families while Sonora’s governor has launched a full investigation. Emergency services transported several victims to hospital, and investigators are probing whether an electrical fault or an explosion caused the blaze.
Children Among 23 Killed in Hermosillo Supermarket Fire — Investigation Underway
A fire at a Waldo’s supermarket in Hermosillo, Mexico, killed 23 people and injured about a dozen; officials warn the toll may rise. Most victims likely died from inhaling toxic gases, the state attorney general said. President Claudia Sheinbaum ordered support teams for victims’ families while Sonora’s governor has launched a full investigation. Emergency services transported several victims to hospital, and investigators are probing whether an electrical fault or an explosion caused the blaze.
12:07, 02.11.2025Society
Deadly blaze at Waldo's store in Hermosillo kills 23, including children
A fire ripped through a Waldo's supermarket in Hermosillo, northwestern Mexico, on Saturday, leaving 23 people dead and about a dozen more injured. Officials warned the death toll could rise as investigations and hospital transfers continue.
The tragedy unfolded as millions of Mexicans were observing Day of the Dead commemorations, when families gather to honour deceased relatives.
Cause and casualties: Gustavo Salas, Sonora's attorney general, said the state forensic medical service believes most victims died from inhaling toxic gases. Local media have suggested a possible electrical fault, and authorities are also probing whether an explosion occurred. The fire has since been extinguished.
Official response: President Claudia Sheinbaum said she had ordered support teams to assist victims' families and the injured. “My heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives,” she wrote on X.
Sonora’s governor, Alfonso Durazo, announced a “thorough and transparent investigation to clarify the causes of the accident” and confirmed that children were among those killed.
Emergency services: Sonora’s Red Cross deployed 40 staff and 10 ambulances, making six trips to local hospitals to transfer victims. The city’s firefighters remain part of the ongoing probe into the incident.
City officials emphasised that the Waldo's outlet was not the target of an attack. Authorities continue to collect evidence and interview witnesses as they work to establish the precise cause of the fire.