Fireworks at a home in Hawaii caused a deadly explosion, killing at least three | Crime news

Both the state’s governor and Honolulu’s mayor vowed to crack down on illegal fireworks after the explosion.

An explosion caused by fireworks has killed at least three people in a residential area of ​​Honolulu, Hawaii, marking a tragic start to the new year on the island of Oahu. Two were pronounced dead at the scene.

The explosion occurred shortly after midnight local time (10:00 GMT) on Wednesday as revelers celebrated the arrival of the New Year. As many as 20 others were injured.

The explosion occurred inside a home, and drone footage of the explosion shows plenty of fireworks erupting into a column of smoke in the night sky.

Jim Ireland, director of the Honolulu Department of Emergency Services, said he saw many burns and “blast-type injuries” when he arrived at the scene, including from shrapnel.

“I was in the emergency room [emergency medical services] over 30 years, and this is probably the worst call I’ve ever been on, in terms of the sheer tragedy and the number of patients and the severity of the injuries,” Ireland said.

He explained that the injuries required a “mass response”. The Irish department dispatched 10 ambulances and noted the presence of an ambulance from the Federal Fire Service.

The explosion occurred not far from a joint US Air Force and Navy base. Fire engines from nearby Pearl Harbor responded to the scene.

At a news conference, Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Justin Brownfield said his agency also sent eight units and two battalion chiefs. He described “enormous wreckage” at the site.

“The first units on the scene were confronted with dozens of victims, including many in critical condition,” Ireland said, describing his first impressions of the scene.

The US government often warns of the risks associated with the amateur use of fireworks during the holiday season.

Consumer Product Safety Commission, a government agency, reports that eight deaths and an estimated 9,700 injuries were attributed to the use of fireworks in 2023 alone.

No details have been released about the cause of Wednesday’s fireworks explosion in Honolulu.

But Hawaii Governor Josh Green called out the use of illegal fireworks in the statement reacting to the explosion.

The use of aerial fireworks is considered, as well as ground-based fireworks such as sprinklers and fountains illegally in Oahu.

“Because combating illegal fireworks has been a priority, last year we established the Illegal Fireworks Task Force to identify and disrupt supply chains,” Gov. Green said in a statement Wednesday.

“£227,000 was seized [103,000kg] of illegal fireworks to date, but incidents like this remind us of the ongoing challenges we face.”

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi also issued a press release to local media promising tougher penalties against those who illegally use fireworks.

“This incident is a painful reminder of the danger posed by illegal fireworks, which endanger lives, drain our emergency response resources and disrupt our communities,” Blangiardi said in a statement.

“Year after year, a minority of individuals recklessly endangers all of us. This is absurd and unacceptable. My administration remains committed to working with federal and state agencies to shut down this illegal fireworks trade once and for all.”