Mexico: At least 22 people were killed, including four children after an explosion triggered a fire at a department store in Hermosillo, capital of the northern Mexican state of Sonora, local media reported.

The explosion occurred in the afternoon at a chain department store in the city center, according to the reports. Witnesses said the fire quickly spread through the building and nearby vehicles, trapping several people inside, Xinhua news agency reported.

Rescue teams rushed to the scene to conduct search-and-rescue operations and transport the 12 injured people to local hospitals.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire may have been caused by smoke from a malfunctioning transformer.

The explosion occurred in one of the stores of the local Waldo’s chain, after which the

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