Probe underway after fire hits armory in Cavite naval base

Fire at a naval base armory in Sangley Point, Cavite City on Nove,ber 9, 2018. PHOTO FROM PHILIPPINE NAVY

An investigation is underway after the armory at a naval base in Sangley Point, Cavite City went up in flames early Friday.

“Investigation is ongoing to determine the exact cause of this incident,” said Navy spokesperson Cdr. Jonathan Zata. 

Fire struck one of the igloos of the Naval Ordnance Depot in Heracleo Alano Naval Base at around 5:30 a.m. 

There were no reported deaths or injuries. Employees were told not to go to work.

The said igloo houses the ammunition for small caliber firearms including those M203 with smoke grenades.

A video obtained by INQUIRER.net showed explosions in the arms depot at the time of the incident. The fire was put out shortly before 8 a.m. the same day.

Around 300 military families staying inside the camp, located some two kilometers away from site, were evacuated for the meantime as part of the standard operating procedure. They were also likely to return within the day, Zata said.

Up to 10 ships and small boats were also transferred outside the naval base because of the incident. /kga