An explosion at a fireworks warehouse in Barangay Tetuan, Zamboanga City, on Saturday claimed the lives of five individuals and injured at least 24 others. The blast also caused significant property damage, shattering windows and damaging nearby houses.
Incident Details
According to a Sunday bulletin from GMA Integrated News, the explosion was powerful enough to cause widespread damage. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the blast. Among the fatalities were the warehouse’s security guard and his four-year-old son, as reported by GMA Regional TV’s Efren Mamac on “24 Oras Weekend.”
“The impact was strong. We ran outside. It was dark, and there was so much gunpowder,” said resident Divina Sumambot.
Response and Investigation
The explosion resulted in approximately P62.5 million in property damage and ignited a fire that took three hours to extinguish. Zamboanga City Mayor John Dalipe stated that the warehouse owner was the only licensed operator of a firecracker business in the city. Authorities are probing why the fireworks warehouse was situated in a residential area.
Dalipe also mentioned that a proposed total ban on fireworks in Zamboanga City would be reviewed pending the results of the investigation. “Let us wait for the results of the investigation,” he said.
The Zamboanga City Social Welfare and Development Office is in the process of identifying the victims and affected families to provide necessary aid. GMA Regional TV is awaiting comments from the warehouse owner, who has not yet responded.