What began as a night of dancing, music, and the burning of “toritos” (firework bulls) ended in scenes of panic in the main square of Amatitán, Jalisco, after an explosion—triggered by fireworks—struck food stalls containing LP gas tanks.
Videos captured by attendees, along with several live streams on social media, documented the exact moment flames swept through the crowd of families, musicians, and vendors during the patron saint festivities, which had been underway for several days.
The explosion that rocked Amatitán’s main square during the festival left behind scenes of chaos and a preliminary toll of several injured individuals—some critically—though authorities have not yet released an official casualty count.
The celebration had kicked off with traditional dances in the church’s main courtyard, where entire families—including children and young people—gathered beneath decorations of red and yellow *papel picado* (cut paper banners).
The burning of the “toritos” was the next scheduled event of the festival, and attendees positioned themselves near the courtyard to watch the pyrotechnic display. No one anticipated what would unfold just minutes later.
The circulating videos show individuals handling the fireworks, while families with children remained just a short distance from the area where the pyrotechnics were being set off. Footage captured from various angles shows a man carrying a “torito,” pacing back and forth across the square just seconds before the blast, as sparks began to scatter across the ground.
According to preliminary reports, a *buscapiés* (a type of ground-skimming firework) skittered across the pavement until it reached a snack stall containing LP gas cylinders and boiling oil. The resulting explosion was instantaneous.
