A lavish wedding in a highbrow event venue in Mexico turned tragic when a raging fire erupted sending the couple and their 850 guests scurrying to safety.
The dream wedding day quickly turned into a nightmare as the raging fire erupted in a marquee at the popular wedding venue in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, reportedly due to a short circuit.
Screaming wedding guests can be heard as the blaze rapidly grows into a terrifying fiery wall, engulfing the wedding decorations in its path at Hacienda Los Arcángeles.
25 people were treated for smoke inhalation, with a further five – including the DJ – hospitalised for their injuries following the devastating blaze that burned through fake greenery, climbing metres high into the sky.
The flames first broke out at the huge marquee at the upmarket location around 10.30 pm Central Standard Time on Saturday, March 16.
Showers of burning artificial vegetation and other decorations fell on petrified guests’ heads.
Firefighters saved the day as they quickly evacuated 850 people, including the newlyweds.
According to local authorities, it took the San Miguel de Allende Red Cross Delegation less than two hours to subdue the flames.
However, the rescue team were at the premises well into the next morning, extinguishing the smoking debris, local media reports.
Mauricio Trejo, the mayor of San Miguel de Allende, commended emergency service teams for their rapid response and saving attendees.
He said: ‘I congratulate both fire departments, the Civil Protection, and the Municipal Police for successfully carrying out the evacuation to save lives.’
Among the teams who attended the scene were the San Miguel de Allende Red Cross Delegation, the SMA Red Cross, the Municipal Civil Protection, and the Municipal Public Security Secretariat.
The Board of Firefighters, Firefighters and Paramedics, SEDENA, Municipal Transit, SEETS, and San Miguel Emergencies also attended the incident, the Yucatan Times reports.
The owner of the venue, which describes itself as ‘one of the most exclusive and popular venues for weddings and events’, said the property did not sustain significant damage and restoration work is already underway.
