Call for ban grows louder after Bocaue explosion

BOCAUE, BULACAN—A ban on fireworks and firecrackers loomed, following a Wednesday morning explosion here that killed two persons and injured 24 others.

Police have yet to determine what caused the 10:45 a.m. blast, which triggered a blaze that razed four firecracker stores and six other establishments on MacArthur Highway in Biñang 1st village here.

The explosion “gave us additional evidence to push for a total fireworks ban,” said Dr. Jesse Fantone, Central Luzon chief of epidemiology of the Department of Health (DOH).

The DOH has been waging a campaign to ban the sale and use of firecrackers to reduce the number of injuries, especially during the yuletide revelry.

The blast threw debris across the highway, hitting six vehicles, some carrying commuters.

“We were so scared. We closed our shops because we were certain the fire would spread,” said a store attendant who was helping clean the highway.

The identities of the two fatalities and the injured were not immediately available. One of the victims was burned beyond recognition. Two of the injured were treated for first degree burns.

Firemen put out the blaze shortly after 1 p.m. but some firecrackers inside the gutted stores continued to ignite as of 4 p.m., said fire marshal Renan Batchine.

Some debris flew toward an adjacent compound filled with buildings but only burned the roofs. —WITH A REPORT FROM TONETTE OREJAS