Mexico: At least five people have died after a huge fire tore through a packed fairground in south-eastern Mexico during a concert attended by thousands of people.

The blaze broke out in the early hours of Thursday in the city of Villahermosa, located in Tabasco state. According to local officials, emergency crews rushed to the scene as flames rapidly spread through the crowded venue.

Videos shared on social media showed large crowds running in panic while thick smoke and flames engulfed parts of the fairground.

What happened at the fairground?

Reports said the fire erupted during a concert that had begun on Wednesday night. Spanish newspaper El País reported that nearly 135,000 people were attending the event when the blaze started.

Drone footage released later showed extensive destruction at the site, including charred structures and heavily damaged sections of the fairground.

Authorities have not yet confirmed the exact cause of the fire, and investigations are expected to continue.

What have officials said?

Tabasco Governor Javier May said emergency services managed to bring the fire under control after several hours.

In a statement posted on X, the governor expressed condolences to the families of those killed and said state authorities would provide full support to the victims.

He also thanked members of the public who helped evacuate people from the area during the emergency.

Officials have announced an economic recovery programme for businesses affected by the blaze, as authorities begin assessing the scale of the damage.

The incident has raised fresh concerns about crowd safety and emergency preparedness at large public events in Mexico, especially during concerts and festival gatherings attended by tens of thousands of people.