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Sonora Removes Civil Protection Chief After Hermosillo Waldo’s Fire as Probe Focuses on Transformer

The state removed its civil protection chief to avoid a conflict of interest during the investigation.

Overview

  • Authorities say the leading hypothesis points to a failure of a private electrical transformer inside the store, with forensic and technical teams continuing their work.
  • The state prosecutor confirmed all 23 fatalities have been identified, including six minors and a pregnant woman, and the final remains were delivered to families.
  • María Isabel Morales, 20, was transferred to Valleywise Hospital in Phoenix for specialized burn care, and several other patients remain hospitalized in Hermosillo.
  • Operations at all 68 Waldo’s stores in Sonora were suspended for review, and inspections in other states led to 13 closures in Tijuana and additional shutdowns in Sinaloa and Rosarito.
  • Officials and experts cite serious safety lapses at the Hermosillo store, including the absence of a valid internal civil-protection program since 2021, as Waldo’s pledges cooperation and support such as funeral costs and a medical air transfer.