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CNN Live Sunday

Fireworks Explosion Kills 220 in Lima, Peru

Aired December 30, 2001 - 15:33   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And now more on the situation in Peru, where rescue teams there continue the grim task of recovering bodies from a charred shopping center. That center is right in the heart of Lima. A fireworks explosion set off a massive fire last night, that quickly spread through four blocks, and it killed at least 220 people. Dozens more were injured.

CNN's Claudia Cisneros has the latest from Lima.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CLAUDIA CISNEROS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Burned bodies piled up on the sides of the street. Men, women and children who were celebrating and shopping for the holidays, caught by surprise by a massive blaze.

The festive last Saturday of the year turned deadly, causing chaos. That fire quickly spread through a downtown Lima commercial area, where fireworks are commonly sold. People ran for their lives. Some did not get far. Whole lines (UNINTELLIGIBLE) on fire. And those pedestrians around them died almost instantly. Their bodies now beyond recognition.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I saw a firecracker exploded. It looked like someone wanted to try one out and everything exploded. It was an important firecracker. And here you see everything is gone. And that's life.

CISNEROS: Life and death. While the investigation's still ongoing, the death toll continues to rise. Firefighters are afraid that they will find people may have died trapped on rooftops and behind security bars. They also fear that some shopkeepers that locked themselves when the fire broke out to prevent looting may have died.

President Alejandro Toledo got to the scene after cutting short a trip to northern Peru. He witnessed the devastation first hand, offered government help for the victims' burials, as well as free medical assistance for the survivals. He promised a thorough investigation.

The fire that covers some four blocks destroyed at least three buildings and several homes. In the historical downtown Lima, designated World Heritage by United Nations. Some of them are made of adobe, causing them to crumble in the fire. It took more than four hours and 440 firefighters to put it out. Narrow streets and common areas crowded with onlookers presented problems for the firefighters, as did the low water pressure in the old historical district.

(on camera): These fireworks meant to bring job and pleasure ended up bringing death and loss. President Alejandro Toledo has declared two days of national mourning. His announcement of banning fireworks productions and imports have been well received by most citizens. Hopefully, it will prevent tragedies like this to happen again in the future. Unfortunately a measure that came too late for too many.

Claudia Cisneros for CNN, Lima, Peru.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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