6 hurt as blast hits fireworks factory in Bulacan

(Update) SAN RAFAEL, Bulacan - Six people were injured Friday when a fire, followed by a blast, razed five work areas owned by Dragon Fireworks Inc, the largest fireworks manufacturer in the country. Some P600,000 worth of properties were also damaged by the fire which started about 11:30, Senior Fire Officer 2 Gilbert Centeno told GMANews.TV in a phone interview. The fire, which reached a second alarm, was contained an hour later. The fireworks company is located on Sampaloc village, municipality of San Rafael in Bulacan province. Centeno said victims Rochelle Hernandez, Sher Jean Mandid, Romalina Lopez, Loida Manahan, Mira Jean de Guzman, all employees of the fireworks company, suffered minor injures. Their co-worker, Normina de Guzman, had a bone dislocated which had to be placed in a cast. The victims were brought to Baliwag Disrict Hospital for treatment. Centeno said they are still investigating the cause of blaze but their initial probe showed the fire started at the compressing and composition area. Joven Ong, president of Dragon Fireworks Inc, expressed relief upon learning that his workers only suffered minor injuries except for Normita. "Nagpapasalamat kami at walang namatay, pero may mga nasugatan dahil nadapa," Ong said. He stressed that his workers were save from possible serious injuries by following the drill they have been taught in the past in case of fire or explosion inside the factory. - Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV