Seven people missing from massive explosion at California fireworks facility

Clouds of smoke rise following explosions at a firework storage warehouse in Esparto, California, United States, July 1, 2025 in this screengrab taken from a social media video. Hudson Sheats/via REUTERS

(Reuters) -Seven people were missing after a fire and powerful explosion leveled a commercial fireworks facility in rural northern California, authorities said on Wednesday.

Aerial footage from local news media showed the large warehouse-like building blown to pieces Tuesday evening in an enormous, thundering fireball that rocked a wide area around the Yolo County community of Esparto, about 40 miles (64 km) west of Sacramento, the state capital.