2 hurt as 600 'kwitis' explode in Ilocos house

At least two people were injured while a house was destroyed after 600 pieces of kwitis stored inside it went off in Ilocos Norte, a television report said Monday.

 

The incident occurred in Barangay 7 in Bacarra town, GMA Ilocos' Mark Masudo reported on GMA News TV's "Balita Pilipinas Ngayon."

 

Investigators are verifying the household's claims they used an electric mosquito swatter to kill a mosquito, but the insect's burning remains fell on the kwitis.

 

"May napansin daw sila na parang insekto. Hinampas nila ng mosquito bat tapos nalaglag yung insekto sa mga kwitis. Yun ang pinaniniwalaan nilang dahilan kung kayat sumindi ang paputok," said Bureau of Fire Protection SFO3 Rustum Silvestre.

 

No one was killed as the seven members of the household managed to run out of the house, but two residents were hurt.

 

"Hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko noon, nagpaikot-ikot sa kwarto ang mga kwitis," said Dominic Galang.

 

The fire lasted for an hour.

 

Police said the house owner had no proper permit for fireworks, but the house owner said they were still in the process of getting a permit.  — Joel Locsin/ELR, GMA News