Death toll in Laguna firecracker factory blast rises to 4

LUCENA CITY—Fire investigators were looking into the mishandling of firecrackers as the possible cause of the explosion at a factory in Cabuyao City, Laguna province, on Thursday afternoon.

Lt. Col. John Eric Antonio, Cabuyao police chief, said the number of fatalities in the blast had risen to four as of Friday morning, while four other people were injured.

The fatalities were identified as John Ronald Deduro, 23; Marvin Ocom, 27; Ricardo Olic-Olic, 51; and Bebot Reymundodia, 44, who were workers of the factory.

“The firecracker materials are sensitive,” Antonio explained in a recorded media interview, noting that witnesses reported seeing smoke billow from the factory before the explosion.

Olic-Olic died in a hospital in Cabuyao while undergoing treatment for his injuries, while Reymundodia died at Philippine General Hospital in Manila. Deduro and Ocom were found dead in the vicinity of the factory.

Antonio said the injured were taken to different hospitals for treatment. They were identified as BM Reymundodia, Gemboy Delonino, Mylene Tarapidio and Brian Reymundodia.

The relationship between the three Reymundodias was not immediately established, but investigators said they all reside at the same address.

According to Antonio, the firecracker factory is owned by the Lebrilla-Aquino family under the business name Diamond Fireworks Inc., which has operated for more than two decades now, specializing in pyrotechnics.

Investigators said the explosion rocked the factory in Barangay Bigaa at 3:30 p.m. Flames then engulfed the site, which were put out at 5:57 p.m. that day.

Cabuyao Mayor Dennis Hain said the local government would provide financial assistance to the injured and the fatalities’ families.

He also ordered the residents near the firecracker factory to temporarily evacuate their homes and settle at the elementary and high school buildings in the village for their safety. —DELFIN T. MALLARI JR.