Two Clandestine Fireworks Blasts Strike Juazeiro do Norte Within 24 Hours, Leaving One Dead

Overview

• A second explosion in the Frei Damião neighborhood early Thursday around 2 a.m. caused extensive structural damage to surrounding homes and vehicles.
• The state forensic service reported one fatality from the latest blast and is still determining whether the death resulted from the detonation or from a shock triggered by it.
• Military police at the scene identified the deceased as neighbor Francisco José da Silva, who fell ill after the explosion and died despite treatment by emergency medics.
• An earlier blast on Wednesday at another house-based fireworks operation injured a man, a woman, and a child with burns; the child suffered burns over 49% of the body and the adults remain in serious condition, according to G1.
• Firefighters, police, Samu Ceará and Pefoce responded to both incidents, and municipal environmental bodies say they will review possible omissions after prior resident complaints about illegal factories.