Calif. man loses hand in Illegal fireworks blast

An accident involving illegal fireworks Friday night in San Jose cost one California man his hand, several media outlets are reporting.

Alazar Ortiz, a construction worker in his 40s, had to have his right hand amputated and lost three digits on the other, NBC Bay Area reports.

Ortiz was lighting a "professional grade explosive" when the firework exploded earlier than anticipated. He also suffered burns on his face and ears, NBC reports.

"It would have had to have been something pretty powerful," Officer Albert Morales of the San Jose Police Departmenttold the San Jose Mercury News.

Efforts to reach the San Jose Police Department for independent confirmation have proved unsuccessful.

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