Toddler Dies in New Year's Eve Fireworks Explosion

A tragic fireworks explosion in Honolulu on New Year's Eve has resulted in the death of a three-year-old boy, Cassius Ramos-Benigno, marking the fourth fatality after three women also lost their lives in the incident. The explosion left over 20 individuals injured, many with severe burns, prompting six victims to be airlifted to Phoenix, Arizona for critical care due to Hawaii's limited burn center capacity. Dr. Kevin Foster from the Arizona Burn Center reported that the patients, aged in their 20s and 30s, face extensive injuries with burns covering 45% to nearly 80% of their bodies, and are currently in medically induced comas. Despite the severity of their conditions, he noted that they are stable but could take up to a year to return to normal life. In response to the disaster, Hawaiian officials are calling for stricter enforcement against illegal fireworks, aiming to prevent such tragedies in the future. Mental health support is being provided to the burn victims, as they are likely to experience post-traumatic stress from their injuries.