5 killed in explosion, fire at suspected illegal fireworks factory in Pangasinan

Five people, including an eight-year-old girl, were killed after a suspected illegal fireworks factory exploded and caught fire in the middle of a field in Malasiqui, Pangasinan.

The explosion triggered a massive fire, that killed the victims, authorities said.

“Marami, ang lakas…. Nagsilabasan ang mga bisita… Parang fireworks,” resident Joshua Lomibao said. (There were a lot… All the visitors left… It was like fireworks.)

While firefighters were able to respond and declare a fire out by 8:21 p.m., the incident left five people dead. Meanwhile, two others were able to escape.

The house was in the middle of a farm, which was around 600 meters away from other houses.

According to the police’s initial investigation, it is suspected that the house was hiding an illegal fireworks factory.

“Nagkaroon ng isang suspected nga na imbakan o pagawaan dahil walang kaukulang permit doon sa dating piggery ay doon sila nag-alaga ng baboy, kambing at lingid sa kaalaman ng may-ari ay mayroon pala silang imbakan o pagawaan ng paputok,” Malasiqui Police Station Chief P/Lt. Col. Francisco Sawadan said.

(There was a suspected storage or factory because there are no proper permits in that former piggery where they used to care for pigs and goats, and without the knowledge of the owner, they stored or created fireworks.)

The area has since been cordoned off. Police found boxes of baby rockets, kuwitis, and materials to create fireworks.

Sawadan said that they have issued an advisory to barangays to better safeguard the activities of their local communities.

Authorities are still determining who owns the property. Survivors of the fire incident have declined to comment on the matter.—Jean Mangaluz/LDF, GMA News