Boy, 12, killed in firecracker blast in Tondo, Manila on Sunday night

A 12-year-old boy died while his 12-year-old companion was injured when a firecracker reportedly exploded in their hands on Sunday night in Tondo, Manila.

According to Olan Bola’s report on Super Radyo dzBB, a tricycle driver saw the two victims sitting on the sidewalk while holding an unknown firecracker at around 8:23 p.m.

Initial police investigation showed that the witness was then driving his tricycle along A. Lorenzo Street near the corner of Jose Abad Santos Avenue when he passed by the two children.

Moments later, an explosion occurred. The blast was captured by a CCTV of Barangay 224, according to GMA Integrated News’ Bea Pinlac.

One of the boys died while his companion was brought to a nearby hospital for treatment. 

The mother of the injured victim said her child would have to undergo an operation.

“Sabi niya po, lalabas lang daw po, may bibilhin daw po siya. Biglang ‘yun po, may narinig kaming malakas na…sumabog. Tapos ‘yun nga daw po ‘yung anak ko,” Candy Delos Reyes said in an Unang Balita report. 

(My child told me that he would just go out to buy something. Suddenly, we heard a loud explosion. Then I was told that my son was involved.) 

Barangay 223 Kagawad Cyron Reyes, meanwhile, said the firecracker used by the children was still unknown. 

“Kagabi daw, may nagpaputok daw po diyan. Dalawa raw po ‘yun, ‘yung isa pumutok. Then ‘yung isa, hindi daw po pumutok, binasa, hanggang sa napulot siguro ng mga bata tapos pinaputok nila kanina,” Reyes said. 

(We were told that someone used firecrackers there last night. There were two firecrackers, one exploded. The other one didn’t explode at first, so it was wet with water. The children might have picked it up and then they lit it.) 

The barangay official also said that the selling and using of firecrackers is prohibited in their area. 

Police are still continuously investigating the incident. — JMA/AOL, GMA Integrated News