AN EXPLOSION shattered Christmas Day in Dagupan City. (Photo via Liezle Basa-Inigo)
DAGUPAN CITY – Police said an illegal fireworks manufacturing and storage facility exploded in Barangay Bacayao Norte here on Christmas Day.
Dagupan police chief Police Col. Orly Pagaduan said debris from a makeshift fireworks factory were discovered in the house.
Two individuals were killed and four were injured in the explosion.
Initial report from the Police Regional Office-1 said the explosion occurred at 7:49 p.m. in a residential area.
The Bureau of Fire Protection, police, CDRRMO, firemen, and Dagupan Electric Corp. responded to the incident.
The victims were taken to the hospital where two of them were declared dead.
Mayor Belen Fernandez and Vice Mayor Bryan Kua were on-site monitoring the incident.
Fernandez described the incident as a heartbreaking Christmas Day tragedy.
“Dito sa Dagupan, walang registered na maker ng paputok, distributor lang at reseller,” Pagaduan said in a radio interview.
(There is now registered fireworks manufacturer, only distributor and reseller)
He added that the manufacturer is not registered with the Regional Civil Security Unit of the Police Regional Office 1.
Authorities are conducting follow-up investigation.