A dump truck transporting empty crude oil drums caught fire while navigating the road in Barangay Bualan, Barira, Maguindanao del Norte over the weekend.

Residents panicked after a fire engulfed the truck by the road. The fire also spread to a house nearby.

Investigators said residents initially thought the drums contained oil after explosions were heard, but the noise was reportedly caused by the tires that exploded.

“Akala ng mga residente may laman yung drum kasi pumuputok daw. Yun pala ang pumuputok is yung mga tire ng dumptruck. Tumakbo daw yung driver kasi nataranta natakot na mabuntungan ng galit ng mga residente na may-ari ng bahay,” BFP Barira Chief Investigators, FO2 Karis Untal, said.

The 35-year-old driver and his helper escaped and reported the incident later to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

The driver reportedly told authorities that the empty drums were supposed to be disposed of in Parang town when the incident happened.

BFP also said that based on the driver’s accounts, the fire may have been caused by a short circuit in the truck’s battery.

“Yung short circuit ng kanyang battery kaya medyo nag apoy na yung battery. Medyo mahaba-haba din yung takbo niya hindi niya napansin kaya yun lumaki ng lumaki,” Untal added.

The damage was estimated at more than P1.1 million.

No one was reported hurt in the incident, but a house nearby was damaged.