Bocaue blast: Firecracker warehouse had no permit

BOCAUE, Bulacan , Philippines — The owner of a firecracker warehouse in this town that exploded on Thursday had no permit, police said.

Lt. Col. Ronnie Pascua, Bocaue police chief, said the owner of the warehouse, Nita Ofracio, is an authorized dealer of firecrackers and pyrotechnics, but the warehouse was not registered and had no permit to store firecrackers.

Pascua said that under the Act Regulating the Sale, Manufacture, Distribution and Use of Firecrackers and Other Pyrotechnic Devices, firecracker stores and warehouses are not allowed in residential areas and must maintain a certain distance from the nearest residential house.

Initial damage to property due to the explosion, which resulted in a fire that destroyed several houses, was pegged at P15 million.

Nineteen people were injured, four of whom were brought to a hospital for treatment.

Rodante Galvez, municipal disaster risk reduction and management officer, said 45 families were affected by the fire.

Seven families were evacuated and brought to a covered court in Barangay Bunducan.

The Bocaue fire station has yet to release a final report on the incident.