A boiler explosion at a candy factory Thursday in Ciuadad Juarez, Mexico killed one person, injured dozens and badly damaged the building, authorities said.
The building is located in an industrial park in the city, which is located in northern Mexico on the border with Texas. The blast collapsed a roof and wall of the factory, and ignited multiple fires. About 30 were injured, and initial reports said that 20 or more were trapped or missing, according to the Los Angeles Times.
"We're still searching the area to see if there are more dead," said Fernando Motta, head of the city's emergency services.
He said that 11 people were badly injured, four of whom are currently in critical condition. Thirty people sustained minor injuries.
A second official, who requested anonymity, said around 20 people are unaccounted for. According to NBC News, it is unclear if they were in the building at the time of the explosion.
Mota said that the "Blueberry" factory did not have a history of industrial problems. He told Milenio Television that the factories "are usually very careful about sending out a message of taking care of their employees."
Ciudad Juarez is a city that is besieged with violence. The city has suffered a great deal of drug gang warfare in recent years, as well as government retaliation. Homicides have declined in the past few months, but even at the height of the bloodshed, the maquiladoras, or factories, flourished. The maquiladoras produce tons of clothing, electronic parts, food products, and other merchandise, primarily for U.S. markets.
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