NINETEEN uniformed personnel and eight civilians on Monday were injured in an explosion of firecrackers that were for disposal in Zamboanga City.
Police said among those injured were six policemen, three members of the Philippine Coast Guard, five from the Bureau of Fire Protection, and five from the Philippine Marine Corps.
A report said of the wounded uniformed personnel, one is in critical condition while four were “severely wounded.”
The other victims sustained minor injuries and were all discharged from the hospital after being treated.
Prior to the explosion, members of the Regional Explosive Canine Unit 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) transported the firecrackers to the disposal site in Zone 2, Bgy. Cabatangan, Zamboanga City.
RECU members were about to dispose of the firecrackers when these prematurely exploded at the site at about 5:35 p.m. on Monday.
Authorities said the firecrackers were seized from a pyrotechnic warehouse in Bgy. Tetuan, Zamboanga City on June 29.
The wounded victims were rushed to the hospital for treatment.
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