Four children— a two-year-old boy, seven-year-old twins, and a 13-year-old girl—were killed and eight other residents were injured in an explosion linked to firecrackers inside a house in Barangay Marulas, Valenzuela City, on Wednesday, Sept. 24.
The blast, which occurred in a suspected illegal pyrotechnics storage site, has renewed calls for tighter regulation as the holiday season approaches.
According to the Valenzuela City Police Station (VCPS), the explosion erupted inside a two-story house believed to be stockpiling firecrackers for resale.
The blast also displaced 10 families after flames spread to nearby homes.
Investigators discovered traces of pyrotechnic powder at the scene.
VCPS chief Col. Joseph Talento confirmed that storing chemicals used in fireworks is strictly prohibited in residential areas.
“Sa information that we got from the residents at saka members of the family, ang kanilang deklarasyon ay may nakaimbak doon na kwitis na iniipon na ibebenta. Kaso during the inspection hindi na nakita yung traces kasi kasama na siya sa explosion,” he said.
Authorities are now tracking down the owner of the house to determine liability.
The exact cause of the explosion remains under investigation.
Valenzuela City Mayor Weslie “Wes” Gatchalian personally visited the site and met with the victims’ families.
He assured them of immediate assistance and emphasized the need for stricter monitoring of pyrotechnic materials.
“The city government and emergency response teams are working closely to support the affected families.
All hospital bills of the victims will be shouldered by the local government,” Gatchalian said. (Hannah Nicol)
