A series of powerful explosions scorched one of Mexico's largest fireworks markets just outside the capital city, leaving at least 31 people dead and dozens injured, the Mexico State police said.

"People were crying everywhere and desperately running in all directions," witness Cesar Carmona said.

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The eruption occurred at 3 p.m. local time at the popular San Pablito marketplace in Tultepec, about 20 miles north of Mexico City. People in nearby towns reported that they felt the ground tremble as fireworks stalls exploded.

"Everything shook strongly," witness Ana Maria Alvarado told CNN.

The blast struck in the run-up to the busy traditional end-of-year activities as Christmas and New Year's parties in many Latin American countries are often celebrated with pyrotechnics. The conflagration sent huge plumes of gray smoke into the sky.

According to Mexico State Governor Eruviel Avila, 26 people died at the scene, at least three died later in hospitals, and more than 70 were injured in the midafternoon explosion. Some children endured burns to more than 90 percent of their bodies and were being sent to the US city of Galveston in Texas, he added.

Avila also vowed to punish those responsible for the accident and provide financial assistance to those livelihoods affected. More than 80 percent of the 300 stalls were ripped through by the explosion.

This is the third time in 11 years that the market has been destroyed by such detonations. Despite the history, the market was certified by the state's Institute of Pyrotechnics and was described as the "safest in all of Latin America," with precautions to "prevent a chain reaction in the case of a spark."

"We had occurrences before but not of this magnitude," a identified called Paulina who has lived in Tultepec her entire life said. A blast at the same market in 2005 harmed a vast number of people and caused massive damage.

TagsMexico, Tultepec, christmas, New Year, fireworks, Explosion