By LIEZLE BASA IÑIGO
DAGUPAN CITY – An explosion at an illegal firecracker factory in Sitio Boquig, Barangay Bacayao Norte, left two people dead and four others injured on Christmas Day.
According to the Police Regional Office 1 (PRO 1), the blast occurred at 7:49 p.m. in a makeshift fireworks facility located within a residential area.
Emergency responders from the Bureau of Fire Protection, Dagupan City Police, and City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) rushed to the scene.
The victims were immediately taken to the hospital, where two were declared dead.
Mayor Belen Fernandez, who personally monitored the situation together with Vice Mayor Bryan Kua, called the incident a “heartbreaking Christmas Day tragedy.”
Police Colonel Orly Pagaduan of the Dagupan City Police Office confirmed that the fireworks manufacturing and storage facility was operating illegally.
He emphasized that Dagupan has no registered firecracker manufacturers, only distributors and resellers.
The establishment was not listed with the Regional Civil Security Unit (RCSU), the office authorized to issue firecracker permits.
Authorities are conducting a follow-up investigation into the incident.
