A POWERFUL explosion ripped through a firecracker warehouse in Zamboanga City and caused a big fire on Saturday, killing five people and seriously injuring 21 others, police said.

Zamboanga City Police Office chief Colonel Kimberly Molitas said they are still investigating the cause of the blast and subsequent fire in Brgy. Tetuan which killed the five victims, two of them children.

Police, fire, military and civilian rescuers rushed to the site to bring the victims to the hospital. As of press time, the wounded are still being treated in different hospitals in the city.

Col. Molitas said that they are investigating how the huge volume of firecrackers ended up in the warehouse.

The owner of the facility has been included in the list of personalities who will be investigated, which is expected to end up in criminal and civil cases being filed in court.

The blast was so powerful that it tore the concrete walls of the warehouse and nearby residences and toppled several electric posts in the neighborhood.

Bureau of Fire Protection personnel declared the fire under control at 6:40 p.m. Saturday.

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Alfred P. Dalizon