On Tuesday, at least 27 people, including 19 police and other government personnel, were injured when a large pile of confiscated illegal fireworks exploded in a powerful blast in southern Philippines. The explosion caused significant damage to houses, hotels, and the international airport in Zamboanga, said by officials.
Two victims of the Monday afternoon explosion were reported to be in serious condition at a hospital in Zamboanga. The city’s mayor has ordered an investigation to determine why the planned controlled destruction of the fireworks by police ordnance experts turned into a massive blast.
According to officials, police explosives experts were piling the fireworks in a clearing near a marine firing range for a controlled detonation when the large heap, which had been doused with water, suddenly exploded. Witnesses reported that the blast was so powerful it shattered glass windows as far as three kilometers away.
The passenger terminal at Zamboanga International Airport, located about two kilometers from the blast site, sustained minor damage. However, no injuries or flight delays were reported, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.
The illegally manufactured fireworks had been hauled from a warehouse in Zamboanga city, where an accidental explosion on June 29 left five people dead and several others injured. Two controlled destructions of the fireworks prior to Monday were conducted without any incident, according to Zamboanga officials.
In the Philippines, it is common for people to set off powerful firecrackers, particularly on New Year’s Eve, influenced by Chinese traditions that believe noisy celebrations drive away bad luck and evil. While government restrictions and economic hardships have reduced this dangerous practice, it persists in many areas.