Manila Fire Department arson investigator FO3 Manuel Gaspar identified the fatalities as Nori Mercado, 78, and Fermin Isidro, 66, while the those hurt were identified as Elisa Batoy, 22, and Vincent Mallari, 12, all residents of 117 San Nicolas, Binondo.
Gaspar said Batoy and Mallari sustained third-degree burns and are undergoing treatment at the Philippine General Hospital.
Initial investigation showed that an Isuzu truck with license plate TNT-550 was being loaded with unknown chemicals from a warehouse along San Nicolas street at about 1:07 p.m. when one of the containers exploded, triggering the fire.
The flames from the exploding chemical razed the victims’ residence nearby as well as an adjacent shanty.
Gaspar said the elderly were trapped inside their two-story house since the burning chemicals surrounded the only exit. Still, Batoy and Mallari managed to flee the burning house despite their burns.
Gaspar said retrieval operations is still ongoing at the razed house, fearing that other fatalities could be found.
Only the arrival of firemen with special extinguishers prevented the blaze from spreading to nearby houses. The blaze was finally put out after 30 minutes.
Gaspar said the chemicals, reportedly used in making rubber slippers, were to be delivered to a warehouse when the explosion occurred.
The driver of the delivery truck was being questioned as of press time.