At least five people have died in a huge fire at a crowded fairground in Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico, during a concert attended by up to 135,000 people, local officials confirmed. The fire erupted in the early hours of Thursday, according to BBC and Gazeta Express reports.

Concert Turns Tragic

The incident occurred during a concert that started on Wednesday night, with footage on social media capturing the chaos as screaming crowds fled the venue, the cause of the fire remains unknown. Governor Javier May confirmed on X that emergency services had brought the flames under control by later Thursday.

May expressed condolences to the victims’ families and pledged full support from the state authorities. He also thanked the public for helping with the evacuation and announced an economic recovery programme for businesses affected by the fire, according to both sources.

Emergency Response and Public Reaction

The governor’s message emphasized gratitude for the public’s role in the evacuation; “The flames have already been brought under control by emergency services,” May wrote, the event has sparked widespread attention, with social media footage amplifying the public’s concern over the incident.

El País reported that the concert attracted a massive crowd, raising questions about safety measures and emergency protocols for such large gatherings, the scale of the event,135,000 attendees—adds to the gravity of the tragedy.

Aftermath and Recovery

May’s announcement of an economic recovery programme signals the state’s intention to support affected businesses, and this comes as local authorities begin to assess the full impact of the fire. No further details have been released about the cause of the blaze or the identities of the victims.

As investigations into the cause of the fire continue, the incident has highlighted the need for reliable safety measures at large public events, while the tragedy has drawn national attention, with officials and the public expressing concern and condolences in the wake of the event.