Waldo's Blast Kills 23; Many Victims Are Minors

A massive explosion and fire tore through a Waldo’s discount store in downtown Hermosillo, Sonora, on Saturday, killing at least 23 people and injuring about 11–12 others as shoppers and staff were trapped amid thick black smoke. Officials and forensic reports say many victims were minors and that most deaths resulted from inhalation of toxic gases rather than direct flame injuries. Authorities have launched an “extraordinary, transparent” investigation; prosecutors and some local reports say a faulty electrical transformer or similar malfunction is the working hypothesis, and investigators say there is no current evidence of an intentional attack. President Claudia Sheinbaum and Governor Alfonso Durazo expressed condolences, ordered support teams and emergency assistance, and suspended local cultural events; the Sonora Red Cross and firefighters led emergency rescue operations and hospital transfers. Video and scene images show the store heavily damaged and nearby vehicles burned as investigators continue searching the rubble and probing the exact cause.