4 hurt in blast in Dagupan

DAGUPAN CITY, Pangasinan, Philippines –At least four people were hurt in an explosion in a house in Barangay Lasip Grande here on Sunday, police said.

Supt. Christopher Abrahano, police chief, said the blast happened after resident Aida Siapno used a “metallic object,” suspected to be a bullet, to stabilize a cooking pot in her firewood stove at 9 a.m. Sunday.

“We are not sure yet, but she must have used a .50 cal. bullet, which exploded due to the intense heat from the stove,” said Abrahano.

The bullet, which is about six inches long, is used for machine guns, according to Abrahano.

Abrahano said a team of investigators had scoured the site of the explosion to look for materials that might have come from the explosive.

Those hit by the explosion suffered minor injuries and were taken to a local hospital, said Abrahano.

He said the stove was destroyed and the debris hit and damaged the kitchen’s walls.