An explosion in Honolulu caused by illegal aerial fireworks shooting into a crate with more fireworks killed three and critically injured 20, police said.

A fireworks-related incident in Hawaii has left two people dead and 22 injured, according to a local news report. The incident took place in Salt Lake-Aliamanu, a neighborhood near Honolulu, and Honolulu Emergency Medical Services have reached the scene, according to Hawaii News Now.

A New Year's Eve fireworks explosion in a Honolulu -area neighborhood killed at least three people and critically injured at least 20 others, authorities said. "It looked like a war zone," said Honolulu Fire Chief Sheldon K. Hao.

Honolulu mayor Rick Blangiardi said in a statement that the explosion was "caused by what appears to be illegal fireworks"

Video taken by a drone shows the moment an uncontrolled and fatal fireworks explosion began in an Honolulu neighborhood on New Year's Eve. Nick Wendrych via AP

EMS paramedic supervisor Sunny Johnson said her teams pronounced two people dead at the scene of the massive explosion early Wednesday, and transported over 20 to hospitals with injuries. A third person died later.

The incident, which occurred during a New Year's celebration, is raising questions about the risks fireworks pose, particularly in Hawaii.

Honolulu released names for two of three women who died in the New Year’s Eve fireworks explosion in Salt Lake but said the identity of the third victim has not been confirmed. The women were killed and more than two dozen other people seriously injured when fireworks exploded in a garage at 4144 Keaka Drive just after midnight.