In a heartbreaking incident on New Year’s Eve, a fireworks accident in the Salt Lake neighborhood of Honolulu, Hawaii, turned a festive celebration into a tragedy. At least three people lost their lives, and 20 others were injured during the mishap on the island of Oahu, just as the clock struck midnight to welcome the new year.
Details about what went wrong with the fireworks are still unclear, and the victims’ names have not yet been released. The scene left first responders deeply shaken.
“It’s just really, really sad—something I’ve never seen in all my years in EMS,” said Jim Ireland, Chief of Honolulu Emergency Medical Services. He added that some responders with combat experience compared the aftermath to a warzone.
Sunny Johnson, a paramedic supervisor, explained the nature of the injuries. “It wasn’t just burns. There were blast injuries too, like you’d expect from an explosion. We saw people with possible missing limbs and others hurt by flying debris.”
Two victims were pronounced dead at the scene, and 20 others were rushed to hospitals with varying injuries. Unfortunately, the death toll rose to at least three and could increase further, according to police.
A neighbor described hearing a “low blast” just before ambulances and police arrived. “It started with a muffled explosion, and minutes later, there were flashing lights and sirens everywhere. It was really tragic,” he said.
The neighbor also recalled comforting a mother whose son was injured. “She was in complete shock and close to collapsing. I stayed by her side as she frantically searched for her son.”
As investigators work to piece together what caused this devastating accident, the community mourns the lives lost and hopes for the recovery of those injured.