Four Injured During Mexican Army Weapons Destruction in Tzintzuntzan

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On August 12, 2026, during a 'Feria del Bienestar' (Wellness Fair) in Tzintzuntzan, Michoacán, personnel from the Mexican Army's 12th Infantry Battalion were conducting a public weapons destruction event as part of the 'Sí al desarme, sí a la paz' initiative. While a soldier was using a metal chop saw to cut a 'homemade' firearm, a live round remaining in the chamber detonated due to the heat and contact from the blade. The explosion produced a loud blast and scattered shrapnel, injuring four civilians in the immediate vicinity. While initial reports from bystanders suggested there were no injuries, local news outlets later confirmed that four men—identified as Rubén, Jorge Adrián, Erasmo, and Daniel—sustained shrapnel wounds. One individual was transported to the Hospital Regional de Pátzcuaro for medical treatment and was subsequently discharged the same day. The incident is widely attributed to a failure in safety protocols, specifically the failure to verify that the weapon was unloaded prior to the destruction process. The state prosecutor's office (Fiscalía General de Michoacán) has initiated an investigation into the matter, and the Secretariat of Governance has confirmed they are providing follow-up care to those affected.