Charred remains of woman found in Bulacan firecracker blast site

BOCAUE, Bulacan — The Wednesday (Oct. 12) explosion that triggered a blaze along a row of firecracker stores has claimed two lives.

The charred remains of a woman, found earlier in the debris, was identified as Gina Gonzales, owner of the firecrackers stores gutted by flames spawned by a 10:45 a.m. blast that threw debris all over MacArthur Highway in Barangay (village) Biñang 1st here.

Manuel Ayala, former Biñang 1st village chairman, was found dead beneath a building wall that fell on him.

The explosion injured 24 other people.

The blast started at the Liberty Fireworks store, beside the Gina Gonzales Fireworks store owned by one of the fatalities, said Bocaue Mayor Joni Villanueva who was briefed about the fire.

But the Bureau of Fire Protection was still investigating the cause of the explosion, as of Wednesday evening, she said.

The blast threw debris across the highway, hitting six vehicles, some carrying commuters.  SFM