Thrissur blast leaves at least 13 dead: ‘Felt like an earthquake,’ say residents
At least four people were killed and more than 40 injured in an explosion at a fireworks manufacturing and storage unit in Mundathikode near Thrissur, Kerala, on Tuesday, April 21, during preparations for the Pooram festival. The incident which took place at around 3 pm, has triggered a large-scale emergency response.Among the injured, nearly eight individuals are said to be in critical condition. While the exact number of workers present at the unit during the blast remains unclear, unconfirmed reports indicate that around 40 people may have been at the site. The facility was reportedly preparing firecrackers for the Thiruvambady Devaswom, one of the key organisers of the Thrissur Pooram festival.The explosion occurred at a unit producing fireworks materials for a sample display scheduled on April 24, part of the week-long Thrissur Pooram festivities that began with flag-hoisting ceremonies on Monday.Authorities said the exact cause of the explosion has yet to be determined, and investigations are underway. The blast was described as extremely powerful, with its sound heard several kilometres away. Many local residents initially mistook it for an earthquake, as thick smoke and flames engulfed the area.Emergency services, including Fire and Rescue teams, police, and multiple ambulances, rushed to the spot. “We received an alert around 3.35 pm about the blast. The firecracker preparation unit was situated in a paddy field that had dried after the harvest, and the intense summer heat may have worsened the incident,” an official from the Wadakkanchery Fire Station told OnManorama.The injured were taken to the Government Medical College Hospital in Thrissur and other nearby hospitals. Health Minister Veena George directed officials to ensure all necessary arrangements for expert medical care, placing multiple hospitals on high alert.Rescue operations are being carried out with caution amid fears of unexploded firecracker materials. During the rescue, another explosion was reported forcing the authorities to proceed with extreme caution.
WHAT began as a quiet afternoon in Mundathikode near Thrissur turned into scenes of panic and devastation on Tuesday, April 21, as a powerful explosion at a fireworks unit killed at least 13 people and left several others critically injured. Authorities said the death toll is feared to rise.
The explosion occurred at a unit where firecracker materials were being manufactured and readied for Thrissur Pooram-related displays.
According to former MLA and CPI leader VS Sunil Kumar, around 40 people were working at the site, though not all have been accounted for yet.
“Thirteen people have died, and five others are in critical condition. The death toll may rise,” he said, adding that the fire has since been completely doused.
City Police Commissioner Nakul Rajendra Deshmukh said at least 23 injured people have been admitted to the Government Medical College Hospital in Thrissur, with some in critical condition. “As per the information received, it was a sudden explosion, followed by a chain reaction. The remaining materials kept exploding for about 20 minutes,” he said, adding that many people managed to escape while others were shifted to hospitals. He said more details would emerge after the investigation, fire audit, and eyewitness accounts.
Among the critically injured is Mundathikode Satheesh, who is understood to have been entrusted with carrying out the fireworks work at the site. He has sustained severe burn injuries.
A worker who escaped the blast described how it unfolded in seconds. “Right next to where I was standing, a sudden flame came and ignited the firecracker fuses that had been laid out to dry. I was working on drying them. Then I heard a loud sound just a few metres away and immediately ran,” said Vincent.
Preliminary accounts suggest that the blast may have been triggered while firecracker materials were being dried and handled, though officials have yet to confirm the exact cause.
For residents living nearby, the human toll unfolded alongside scenes of panic and destruction. “We were resting inside after lunch — me, my wife, and our children — when suddenly everything shook,” Nikhil, who lives close to the site, told Reporter TV. “It felt like the ground split open. The windows shattered, glass flew, and even my child was injured. We ran out without knowing what was happening.”
Homes in the area were damaged by the force of the explosion, with shattered windows and debris scattered across compounds. Several residents said the sound and impact were unlike anything they had experienced.
A few hundred metres away, Usha, another resident, told the channels the first explosion was initially mistaken for a routine firecracker burst. “But then there was a massive blast. The sound was terrifying. We grabbed our child and ran,” she said. “The pressure was so strong that the windows broke. People were just running onto the road.”
Another nearby landowner, Varghese Tharakan, said the explosion came without a warning. “Everything shook first, and then there was a loud blast. Initially, I had no idea what was happening,” he said.
Visuals from the site show a charred stretch of land where the unit once stood, with remnants of firecracker materials scattered across the area. Flames reportedly rose above coconut trees, and the fire continued to burn for hours after the initial explosion.
Wadakkanchery MLA Xavier Chittilappilly said multiple units had been deployed to extinguish the fire and additional facilities were being arranged.
District Collector Sikha Surendran said additional teams were on their way from Palakkad and Ernakulam. She added that drones were being used for search operations and robotic equipment had been arranged.
Authorities have yet to release the full list of victims, and the exact number of people present at the site remains unclear. For many, that uncertainty has compounded the grief. “Many people were working there in the morning; we don’t know how many of them are still alive,” a resident said.
Emergency teams rushed to the site soon after the blast, carrying out rescue operations amid fears of further explosions from unexploded materials.
