January 2nd 2025.
On New Year's Eve, there was a tragic incident in a neighbourhood near Honolulu in Hawaii. A fireworks explosion took place just before midnight, causing the death of at least three people and leaving 20 others in critical condition. The Honolulu Fire Department released a statement confirming the accident, which happened outside a house.
The neighbourhood is close to Honolulu's international airport and a joint US Air Force and Navy base. It is also just over three kilometres away from the USS Arizona Memorial, a site that honours the brave sailors who lost their lives in the attack on Pearl Harbor, which marked the US's entry into World War II.
According to the Honolulu Emergency Medical Services, two people were pronounced dead at the scene, and the other 20 victims were quickly rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. In a press conference held in the early hours of Wednesday, Director of the Honolulu Emergency Services Department, Dr Jim Ireland, expressed his shock and grief at the tragedy, stating that this was one of the worst calls he had ever been on in his 30 years of experience.
The death toll was later confirmed to be three by Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi, who also stated that more than 20 people had suffered critical injuries. He also emphasized the danger of illegal fireworks, which not only put lives at risk but also drain the resources of first responders and disrupt the peace and safety of our communities.
Videos shared on social media by witnesses showed a large number of fireworks being set off in different parts of the city throughout the night. However, officials reported that the explosion was not caused by these home fireworks. In addition to the victims of the blast, there were also four other cases of serious fireworks-related injuries reported.
The fire department is currently investigating the cause of the explosion but has not released any details about how the accident occurred. They also confirmed that there was no fire at the house where the explosion took place. At this time, the victims have not been identified, and our hearts go out to their loved ones during this difficult time.
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