Armory unsuited for storing explosives, munitions—officials
Video by INQUIRER.net’s Ryan Leagogo
MANILA, Philippines – The storage facility that was hit by fire Wednesday was not suited for storing ammunition and explosives, a spokesman for the Philippine Army said.
Army personnel shows ammunition recovered from armory hit by fire Wednesday, May 7, 2014. 25 people were injured in the fire and series of explosions that followed. RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net
“The storage facility was not suitable really for storing those kinds of explosives and munitions,” said Lieutenant Colonel Noel Detoyato, hours after the armory at the Army Headquarters in Fort Bonifacio was hit by fire that caused a series of explosions and injured 25 people Wednesday.
He added that while the explosives inside the facility did not have blasting caps, these exploded because of the heat during the fire.
Chief Inspector Junito Maslang of the Taguig City Fire Department agreed with Detoyato.
“Of course, a storage area should not be like that wherein it was very close to offices,” Maslang said. “It should be on a bunker that is well-protected and well-insulated enough to withstand an explosion.”
Detoyato said that the stored explosives were used primarily for instructional purposes.
As of posting time, the Taguig City Fire Department was scouring the area to determine the cause of the fire.
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