Both the state’s governor and Honolulu’s mayor vowed to crack down on illegal fireworks after the explosion.
An explosion caused by fireworks has killed at least three people in a residential neighborhood in Honolulu, Hawaii, marking a tragic start to the new year on the island of Oahu. Two were pronounced dead at the scene.
The blast happened shortly after midnight local time (10:00 GMT) on Wednesday as revelers celebrated the arrival of New Year’s Day. About 20 others were injured.
The explosion occurred at a house and drone footage of the explosion shows a flurry of fireworks exploding in a plume of smoke against the night sky.
Jim Ireland, director of the Honolulu Department of Emergency Services, said he saw multiple burns and “blast-type injuries” when he arrived at the scene, including cuts.
“I’ve been in EMS (emergency medical services) for over 30 years, and this is probably the worst call I’ve ever received, in terms of the sheer tragedy and the number of patients and the severity of the injuries,” Ireland said.
He explained that the injuries required a “massive response”. Ireland’s department deployed 10 ambulances, and he noted the presence of ambulances from the federal fire department as well.
The explosion occurred not far from a joint base of the United States Air Force and Navy. Firefighters from nearby Pearl Harbor responded to the scene.
At a news conference, Justin Brownfield, a representative for the Honolulu Fire Department, said his agency also sent eight units and two battalion chiefs. He described “massive ruins” at the site.
“The initial units on the scene were dealing with dozens of casualties, including many who were critical,” Ireland said, describing his initial impressions of the scene.
The US government often warns about the dangers associated with the use of amateur fireworks during the holiday season.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission, a government agency, reports that eight deaths and about 9,700 injuries were attributed to the use of fireworks in 2023 alone.
No details have been released about the cause of Wednesday’s fireworks display in Honolulu.
But Hawaii Governor Josh Green called out the use of unlicensed fireworks in a statement responding to the explosion.
The use of aerial fireworks, as well as land-based fireworks such as sparklers and fountains, are considered illegal on Oahu.
“Because the fight against illegal fireworks has been a priority, we created the Illegal Fireworks Task Force last year to identify and disrupt supply chains,” Governor Green said in Wednesday’s statement.
“It has seized 227,000 pounds (103,000 kg) of illegal fireworks to date, but incidents like this remind us of the ongoing challenges we face.”
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi also issued a press release to local media pledging to pursue tougher penalties against those who use fireworks illegally.
“This incident is a painful reminder of the danger posed by illegal fireworks, which endanger lives, deplete our first response resources and disrupt our communities,” Blangiardi said in the statement.
“Year after year, a minority of individuals recklessly endanger us all. This is absurd and unacceptable. My administration remains committed to working with federal and state agencies to end this illegal fireworks trade once and for all.”
