Fireworks blast in Cocula, Mexico kills four, injures dozens

A stray rocket ignited fireworks that had been stored for a patronal festival in Cocula, Guerrero, Mexico on the night of July 25‑26, 2026. The explosion occurred in front of the Our Lady of Guadalupe parish during celebrations for St. James the Apostle. Four people were killed, including an eight‑month‑pregnant woman, and 12 others were injured, among them minors with severe burns requiring specialized care.

Bishop José de Jesús González Hernández of the Diocese of Chilpancingo‑Chilapa called for a week of prayer for the victims and their families. Guerrero state under‑secretary Francisco Rodríguez Cisneros said the tragedy resulted from organizers failing to keep a safe distance between the launch site and the stored pyrotechnics.