CHICLAYO, PERU – JANUARY 30, 2026 Peaceful Friday afternoon in the center of the Peruvian city of Chiclayo was shattered by a devastating explosion that rocked one of the local auto repair shops. The blast, which occurred at the Ticolandia garage on the busy Augusto B. Leguia Avenue, claimed one life and left another person seriously injured.
According to initial police findings, the accident happened during a vehicle repair, when a carbide tank likely malfunctioned. The explosion was so powerful that a young mechanic, Victor Manuel Mechan More, died instantly. Inside the workshop at the time was also a woman named Mirla Vasquez Ayay, who suffered severe facial injuries.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene, provided first aid to the injured woman, and then transported her to the Lambayeque Regional Hospital, where she remains under medical care. Police cordoned off the area and allowed forensic investigators and representatives of the public prosecutor’s office to carry out their work.
After an examination, the victim’s body was transported to the central morgue in Chiclayo. Authorities are continuing the investigation to determine the exact cause of the explosion and to find out whether the auto repair shop complied with all safety regulations and had the required operating permits.
