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Raging fire at Mexican fairground kills five, authorities say

By Thomson Reuters May 7, 2026 | 2:18 PM

MEXICO CITY, May 7 (Reuters) – At least five people died in a fire at ​a fairground in the ‌southeastern Mexican city of Villahermosa on Thursday, authorities said, after the massive blaze broke out during ‌a ​concert attended by ⁠thousands.

Authorities do not ⁠know what caused the fire, which erupted early on Thursday morning and is now ​under control, Civil Protection officials said.

Media outlets and social ⁠media users shared ⁠images showing dozens of ​people fleeing the scene as ​a column of black smoke ‌enveloped the sky.

Tabasco state Governor Javier May expressed his condolences to the families of ⁠the victims, who he said included fair exhibitors unable to leave the ⁠premises ‌in time.

May added in ⁠a message on X ​that ‌investigations have begun to ​determine the ⁠fire’s cause and announced an economic recovery program for affected merchants and businesses.

(Reporting by Raúl Cortés Fernández; Editing by ​Bill Berkrot)