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Deadly fire at Mexico day care center claims lives of 29 children

by Rhonda J Mangus | June 5, 2009 at 08:29 pm

836 views | 76 Recommendations | 9 comments

A deadly fire at a Mexico day care center has claimed the lives of 29 children and injured several others.

The victims were from 1 to 5 years old, said Jose Larrinaga, the spokesman.

The fire appeared to have started at 3 p.m. in a warehouse next door to the one-story concrete building that housed the state-run ABC Daycare and spread to the state-run institution, news reports said.

By then, many children had already been picked up by their parents from the one-story building, but others came after the blaze had been put out. As they came upon the scene, some screamed their children's names and others fainted.

In a message of condolence, President Felipe Calderon wished a quick recovery for the injured, who were taken to several area hospitals.

Authorities also dispatched 15 specialists in reconstruction and three air ambulances to the area along with respirators and specialized medicines.

Calderon ordered the director of the Mexican Institute of Social Security, Daniel Karam Toumeh, to travel to the city and oversee the care of the affected children and their families. He also ordered the attorney general of the republic to open an investigation.

According to an AP report at MSNBC, most of the children had died from asphyxiation. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Related story from the BBC, here.

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Uwe Paschen

at 23:23 on June 5th, 2009

When children become the victims it makes it even worst then any such tragedy already is for all involved.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 23:16 on June 5th, 2009

Unfortunately the case, Paschen. Thanks for reading, commenting, and for the recommendation.

Barbara McPherson

at 08:30 on June 6th, 2009

I too wonder how so many were killed when the fire started during the day next door to a one story building. Where were the supervisors? Did they get out and leave children behind? So many questions.

Amy Judd

at 11:40 on June 6th, 2009

The death toll is now apparently up to 35 according to BNO on twitter.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 11:40 on June 6th, 2009

Hi everyone, thank you so much for reading, commenting, and for the recommendations. Mexico seeks to pinpoint cause of deadly fire at day-care center and, because there are so many non-answered questions, I am going to flag this story as 'News Wanted'. Thanks again.

senthil5000

at 14:51 on June 6th, 2009

Relatives of the children who died in a fire at a daycare center wait for information outside the local morgue in Hermosillo in the northern Mexican state of Sonora June 6, 2009. The death toll from the fire rose to 35 children with another 40 or more hospitalized, many in extremely grave condition, the government said on Saturday.

REUTERS/Alonso Castillo (MEXICO DISASTER SOCIETY