A New Year’s Eve fireworks explosion in a Honolulu-area neighborhood killed at least three people and seriously injured 20 others, authorities said.
The Honolulu Fire Department said in a statement that the incident occurred shortly before midnight outside a home.
The neighborhood is located near Honolulu International Airport, a joint U.S. Air Force and Navy base, and just over two miles (3.22 kilometers) east of the USS Arizona Memorial, which honors the sailors who died in the attack on Pearl Harbor that prompted U.S. intervention. World War II.
Two people were pronounced dead at the scene, and the other 20 victims were taken to hospitals, according to Honolulu Emergency Medical Services.
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“I have been in EMS for over 30 years, and this was probably one of the worst calls I have ever received in terms of the sheer tragedy, number of patients and severity of injuries,” Honolulu Department of Emergency Services Director Dr. Jim. Ireland said in a news conference early Wednesday.
A statement issued by Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi put the death toll at three, and more than 20 people were seriously injured.
“This incident is a painful reminder of the danger of illegal fireworks, which puts lives at risk, drains our first responder resources, and disrupts our communities,” Blangiardi said.
Numerous social media posts overnight showed video of homemade fireworks being launched over a wide swath of the city. Officials reported four other serious injuries caused by fireworks unrelated to the explosion.
The fire department said it was investigating the cause of the explosion and had no details about how the accident occurred. He added that there was no fire in the house. The victims were not immediately identified.
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