MEXICO CITY, July 6 (Xinhua) -- Nine of those hospitalized by explosions at small fireworks workshops in central Mexico on Thursday are in a "critical condition," local authorities said on Friday.

The government of the State of Mexico said in a press statement that three other people are in a serious condition and another 13 in a fragile state of health, according to information from the hospitals.

The chain of four blasts ripped through workshops on the outskirts of Tultepec, some 40 km north of Mexico City, claiming the lives of 24 people.

Local government said that, as of Friday, hospitals in the surrounding area had received 54 wounded people, 13 of whom have been discharged while 41 remained hospitalized.

In previous reports, the government said firemen, police and rescuers were among those hospitalized.

According to authorities and witnesses, the majority of those killed and injured were helping at the scene after the first explosion, when three other explosions occurred in nearby workshops.

The government added that it had already returned the bodies of 23 people killed to their families after completing necessary procedures, while the remaining body had yet to be claimed.

Tultepec is an area famed for its firework production, with products being used throughout the country.

The explosions happened in an area called La Saucera, on the outskirts of the town, where some 500 small factories are authorized for the production of fireworks.

The explosions on Thursday has killed at least 24 people, including one minor, local authorities said.

Thursday's accident is the second deadliest in the area since December 2016, when 42 people lost their lives after a chain of explosions destroyed a local market's main sales area.