RESIDENTS flee their homes following a firecracker factory blast in Dagupan City. (Photos courtesy of Janray Aquino)
DAGUPAN CITY – Several residents were reportedly injured in an explosion in a fireworks factory in Barangay Tebeng here on Sunday afternoon.
The explosion at around 4 p.m. triggered a fire in the factory.
The Bureau of Fire Protection, police, and rescue units extinguished the fire and evacuated affected residents. The injured were taken to a hospital.
Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the explosion.
Residents said the ground violently shook like and earthquake during the explosion. People ran outside their houses and saw thick smoke billowing from the factory.
Mayor Belen Fernandez proceeded to the area to assess the situation. Fernandez said they won’t allow any clandestine firecracker factory to be built and endanger the people. She said they are coordinating with authorities to determine accountability and prevent such incidents in the future.