A fireworks display exploded during a festival at an Indian temple early Sunday, killing 98 people, authorities said.
More than 260 people were injured, said A. Shainamol, an official in the southern city of Kollam, where the blaze occurred.
The fire started at 3:15 a.m. local time at the Puttingal temple in Kerala state.
Sparks from the display caused a magazine of fireworks to erupt, causing a bigger blaze, said K. Laljy, a local police official.
The temple did not have permission for the fireworks celebration, according to M.S. Santosh, another police official.
Laljy said the fire is out and emergency personnel are at the scene.
The worshipers were celebrating a local temple festival, according to P. Prakash, the Kollam police commissioner. It's not uncommon for people to pray at temples early in the morning in southern India.
Rescue operations are underway, though it's unclear whether anyone is still inside the temple.
Rescue operations are underway, though it's unclear whether anyone is still inside the temple.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he plans to visit the site of the fire.
"I will be reaching Kerala soon to take stock of the situation arising due to the unfortunate fire tragedy," he tweeted.
His office said those injured in the temple fire will receive 50,000 rupees ( $751) in compensation.
India has seen a handful of lethal fire breakouts in recent years.
In September an explosion in central India caused by mining explosives killed nearly 90 people. And nine people were killed in a 2014 train fire.
Another blaze in February shut down a performance in Mumbai. No casualties were reported.
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