JOIN USMany of the victims — children aged between three months and two years — died from asphyxiation, officials said.
“We continue to get the bodies out,” Jose Larrinaga, a spokesman for the local prosecutor’s office, told reporters late on Friday, adding it was too early to announce a final toll.
In desperate scenes, local residents smashed the cement walls of the centre in the state capital Hermosillo with cars and vans to try to save the children. Around 25 children and five adults were being treated on Saturday in local hospitals, including some in grave condition. Radio reports said there were many newborn babies in a part of the centre where the fire caused the roof to collapse.
“Where’s God? Where’s God?” a police commander said as he came out of the centre in tears, radio reports said.
Between 50 and 70 children and a handful of care workers had been taking an afternoon nap when the fire broke out on Friday. Local media said that there were 176 children inside the ABC daycare centre.
The centre, in a working class neighbourhood, had a staff of around 20 people.