HONOLULU (AP) — A fireworks explosion on New Year’s Eve in a Honolulu-area neighborhood killed at least three people and seriously injured 20 others, authorities said.
The crash happened just before midnight outside a home, the Honolulu Fire Department said in a statement. The neighborhood is near Honolulu International Airport and a joint U.S. Air Force and Navy base and just over 2 miles (3.22 kilometers) east of the USS Arizona Memorial, which honors sailors killed in the U.S. attack on Pearl Harbor. pulled in. World War II.
Two people were pronounced dead at the scene and the remaining 20 victims were transported to hospitals, according to Honolulu Emergency Medical Services.
“I have been in emergency rooms for over 30 years and this is probably one of the worst calls I have ever experienced, in terms of the immense tragedy, the number of patients and the severity of the injuries,” Dr. Jim, Honolulu Emergency Department Director. Ireland said this at a press conference early Wednesday.
A statement from Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi put the death toll at three and said more than 20 people were seriously injured.
“This incident is a painful reminder of the danger of illegal fireworks, which endanger lives, drain the resources of our first responders and disrupt our communities,” Blangiardi said.
Several social media posts last night showed videos of home fireworks being set off over much of the city. Officials reported four other serious fireworks injuries that were not related to the explosion.
The fire brigade says it is investigating the cause of the explosion and has no details about how the accident happened. It said there was no fire in the home. The victims were not immediately identified.