Tultepec explosion rips fireworks market outside Mexico City leaving at least 27 dead

An explosion has ripped through Mexico's best-known fireworks market on the northe outskirts of the capital, leaving at least 27 people dead and 70 injured.

The blast occurred around 2:50 pm Tuesday, destroying the open-air San Pablito Market in Tultepec, which had 300 stalls. Footage shows a huge plume of smoke billowing in the sky while fireworks keep going off and exploding mid-air.

Secondary explosions continued more than an hour afterwards, BNO News reported. Rescuers couldn't enter for a while until the rockets were done exploding.

Some of the injured have bus on up to 90 per cent of their bodies. Some have other serious injuries. Officials and civilians were seen carrying away one of the injured while fireworks went off in the background.

The head of the civil protection agency in Tultepec told BNO News that 27 people had died. Police said 70 were injured in the blast. The explosion could be heard and seen from miles away.

It wasn't immediately clear what had triggered the blast.