Seven die in explosions, fires in Mexico

MEXICO CITY, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- At least seven people died in Mexico on Friday in three separate explosions and a fire in a private house in the central state of Mexico and the northern state of Chihuahua.

The deadliest explosion killed a family of four in Atizapan, when the cooking gas cylinder exploded. The mother and her two daughters died on the spot, and the father died later in hospital.

Another accident occurred in Almoloya de Juarez, also in Mexico state. A 3-year-old child died when two kg of gunpowder and other materials used to make fireworks exploded. Another child was seriously injured.

In the third explosion, a 77-year-old man in Amantepec died when the stove in his home exploded.

In the northern state of Chihuahua, a fire killed a 36-year-oldman who suffered from mental health problems at his home. Police said they suspected he had started the fire himself.