At least 10 people were killed and 64 others injured when pyrotechnic material exploded during a patron saint festival in Temascalcingo, Mexico, authorities announced.

The blast occurred Saturday night next to the Nuestra Señora de la Luz church in the municipality of Temascalcingo, located in central Mexico State, approximately 160 kilometers (100 miles) northwest of Mexico City.

Hundreds of residents had gathered to watch a fireworks display as part of the religious festival when the explosion took place, collapsing a nearby wall. Among the injured were two priests, according to a local bishop.

The cause of the explosion remains undetermined, and the Mexico State Attorney General’s Office has launched an investigation into the incident. Social media videos depicted the scene after the blast, showing smoke and debris as people searched for survivors.

Explosions involving fireworks are not uncommon in Mexico, where pyrotechnics are a frequent component of street celebrations and religious events. These displays are deeply ingrained in the country's cultural fabric, often marking significant holidays and local patron saint festivities.

In a similar incident nearly four years prior, a powerful fireworks explosion in a village in the municipality of Huejutla, within the central state of Hidalgo, resulted in 17 individuals sustaining injuries. Such events highlight ongoing safety concerns surrounding the handling and use of pyrotechnics in public gatherings.

The municipality of Temascalcingo has a population of 66,000 residents. Emergency services responded to the scene following the explosion, attending to the injured and securing the area. The full extent of the damage to the church and surrounding structures is still being assessed.

Officials have stated that investigations will focus on the storage, handling, and detonation procedures of the pyrotechnic materials used during the festival. The findings are expected to inform future safety regulations and protocols for similar events across the region.