POLICE said Sunday, four individuals – two men and two women – sustained second- and third-degree burns in an alleged explosion in a fireworks factory in Balangay 9, Barangay Poblacion, Quezon, Bukidnon.
The victims were taken to the Simbulan Hospital in the neighboring municipality of Don Carlos, Bukidnon and are in stable condition, the Bukidnon Police Provincial Office said.
Initial investigation said that the victims were allegedly engaged in the production of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices prior to the explosion. The assistance of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal was needed as authorities wanted to conduct an in-depth investigation and assess the legality of the establishment.
Quezon police chief Major Noel Cano said they are still waiting for verification from the Firearms and Explosives Office at the Police Regional Office-10 to determine if the establishment is registered to produce firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices.
“If they are not registered, we will check the legal remedy or legal action that we can take against them so that the victims can benefit,” Cano told the Manila Bulletin on Saturday, December 30.
Cano added that the victims were manufacturing fireworks that will allegedly be used for the New Year countdown of the local government unit of Quezon. He said they are looking into this as the fireworks should be ordered and they should not be manufacturing them.
The EOD, together with the Bureau of Fire Protection, has cleared the area of possible hazardous materials. No houses were affected as the area is isolated.
metrosundaily
