So despite the city's best intentions, people all over L.A. ignited fireworks illegally on Wednesday for the Fourth of July, a Los Angeles street tradition that seems to not subside despite the city's intensifying gentrification. Watch this raw aerial video from last night, audio on:
Why do people do this? "Happiness," says one man in this CBS News local report, who also identified himself as a Marine. "It's something that brings the family together." Watch here for more:
[UPDATE:] But indeed, the dangers are real. On Thursday (July 5), at least 19 people were reported killed in two explosions in Tultepec, State of Mexico, in Mexico. The region is home to many communities known for workshops and markets for fireworks.
Some of the dead reportedly include firefighters and police officers who responded to an initial blast before a second shook the area. Watch FacebookLive video of that incident here:
[UPDATE 2:] Now authorities say 24 people are dead after the fireworks explosions. See report here in Spanish.
RELATED: Here’s Where to See Fireworks in L.A., Instead of Illegally Firing Them at Home
