An explosion caused by an electrical system failure in a Waldo's warehouse in Hermosillo, Sonora, killed 24 people and injured 11 more on November 1, 2025. Authorities dismissed the state Civil Protection head and ordered the closure of 68 company stores. The incident revives memories of the 2009 ABC Daycare tragedy, with calls for justice over possible negligence.
On November 1, 2025, an explosion in a Waldo's warehouse in Hermosillo, Sonora, resulted in 24 deaths and 11 injuries, with the wounded transferred to a hospital for medical attention. The failure originated in the warehouse's electrical system, according to initial reports. The Sonora governor committed to investigating the causes and holding those responsible accountable, leading to the dismissal of Armando Castañeda Sánchez, the state Civil Protection head, three days after the incident.
The tragedy sparked public outrage and demands for justice, echoing similar Civil Protection protocol failures in the 2009 ABC Daycare case. The state government ordered the temporary closure of 68 Waldo's stores in Sonora to review safety measures. Waldo's, a low-price retail chain, opened its first Mexican store in 1999 in Tijuana, Baja California, founded by Scott Beck and Robert Rowling from Illinois, United States.
In 2004, the company closed U.S. operations and focused on Mexico, adopting the name Waldo's Dollar Mart de México. In 2012, Grupo Vizion invested capital and took full control in 2014. The main shareholders are Samuel Michan (founder of Grupo Vizion), Mark Davis, Rafael Garza, Robin French, and brothers Rodolfo and Gabriel Padilla. In 2005, Waldo's denied rumors that former President Vicente Fox's children owned the company, publishing the real shareholder names.
Hermosillo residents demand investigation into safety oversight omissions, highlighting the need for Civil Protection efficiency after post-ABC promises. The case underscores vulnerabilities in commercial infrastructure and impacts on local communities.