At least one was confirmed dead while ten others were injured in the blast that hit a warehouse of firecrackers in Bocaue, Bulacan.
In an interview with radio DZZM, Bocaue Mayor Joni Villanueva-Tugna said the fatality has yet to be identified because the body was burnt.
“Ang posibleng nangyari ay nabasa ang mga paputok na ito. Ngayong umaga, nabilad umano at iyon ang posibleng nag-ignite ng pagsabog,” Tugna said.
“May mga nagsabi na nakikita nang umuusok ang mga paputok na ito, hindi na-anticipate ang pagsabog,” she added.
(It’s possible that the firecrakers got wet. And in the morning, the wet firecrackers were exposed to the heat of the sun which might have caused the explosion.
Some said that they saw smoke where the firecrackers were, but they were unable to anticipate the blast.)
The blast happened at McArthur Highway in Barangay (village) Binang 1st.
READ: Firecracker warehouse explodes in Bocaue
Tugna said the total number of casualties has yet to be confirmed as rescue operations are underway.
Bulacan Governor Wilhelmino Alvarado earlier told DZZM that he was hoping that the damage of the explosion was only minimal as it happened “within the vicinity of the commercial complex.” YG/CDG