A tragic incident during a Day of the Dead celebration in Mexico has left a 12-year-old girl with severe burns covering approximately 40% of her body. Zaira Osorio sustained these injuries when her corn husk Catrina costume caught fire at Teodomiro Manzano High School in Huasca de Ocampo, Hidalgo, on 28 October.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/costume-on-fire-110126-c2409a91cd0a4664a9b1939b2ca43ac4.jpg)
Reports indicate that the flames ignited after Osorio brushed past a lit candle while participating in the school event. Video footage reveals the horrifying moment when the back of her costume burst into flames as she paraded across the stage with her classmates. The scene quickly escalated to panic, with teachers rushing forward in a desperate attempt to extinguish the fire, all while students looked on in horror.
In a bid to escape the flames, Osorio dashed off the stage, but the fire continued to spread. Thankfully, a swift intervention ultimately managed to put out the flames engulfing her costume. However, the delay in medical assistance drew concern, as it took several minutes for personnel from the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SPCC) to arrive on the scene.
Following the incident, Osorio was swiftly transferred to a children’s hospital in the state capital before being further moved to the Magdalena de las Salinas Hospital in Mexico City for specialised treatment. A medical report obtained by local news outlets indicates that she remains in a delicate condition.
In light of the serious nature of her injuries, Osorio’s family has reached out for public support via social media, highlighting their struggle with the financial burden of her medical care. Her father, José, expressed the gravity of the situation in a heartfelt message, stating, “Zaira suffered a terrible incident inside a secondary school, which resulted in burns over a large part of her body. Currently, she is facing a delicate situation that requires constant medical attention and care.”
He went on to describe the rising costs of her treatment and the family’s commitment to her recovery, but they are in urgent need of financial assistance: “However, expenses continue to increase, and we need solidarity from all the people who can offer us a hand.”
In the wake of this incident, Hidalgo State’s Ministry of Education has initiated an investigation to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the event. Reports highlight that the use of candles and open flames during school activities is prohibited, raising further questions about safety measures in place at the institution.
To date, Teodomiro Manzano High School, the local Ministry of Education, and SPCC have been unresponsive to inquiries seeking comments regarding the incident, as of 1 November.
This unfortunate accident has reignited discussions around safety protocols during school events, particularly those that involve celebrations with cultural significance, such as the Day of the Dead. Many are now calling for stricter regulations to prevent similar incidents in the future.
As Zaira Osorio continues her fight for recovery, community support and awareness of safety in educational environments remain crucial. The attention this incident has garnered highlights not only the need for vigilance when it comes to the safety of young students but also the human cost of accidents that could have been mitigated with proper precautions in place.