Firecracker-related incidents claim 3 more lives in Bulacan

MAOLOS CITY – Firecracker-related incidents claimed three more lives in Bulacan on Friday, or two days after the New Year revelry, while sending another one in the hospital in critical condition.

The victims were identified as Prince Arjay Laurente, 9, of Barangay San Juan in San Ildefonso town, and Ogie Asero and Pedrito Torcino of Bocaue town, both workers of a firecracker factory.

A third factory worker, identified as Edwin Torcino, suffered third-degree burns and was rushed to the Jose Reyes Memorial Hospital in Manila where he is in critical condition.

Police reports said Laurente was sitting on a fence beside the firecracker factory in Barangay San Juan, San Ildefonso town when an explosion occurred from a canal beside the factory at around 3:30 p.m. Friday.

Police said the explosion might have been caused by unexploded firecrackers thrown by local residents into the canal.

The explosion caused wounds on the victims’ bodies and faces. Relatives of the victims said that it was merely an accident and would no longer asked the police to investigate, as they would not file any charges.

In Bocaue town, two persons died when a fire gutted the E&B fireworks factory owned by a certain Edwin Corpuz in Sitio Balubaran, Barangay Duhat at around 10:30 p.m. Friday.

Superintendent Ronald de Jesus, chief of the Bocaue police, said the fire may have been caused by chemical combustion.

The Provincial Disaster Management Office said one died and 44 other Bulakeños were injured during the New Year revelry.