Zamboanga City, June 30 2024 — An explosion at a fireworks warehouse in southern Philippines killed five people, including a four-year-old child, and left 38 others seriously injured. The blast, which occurred on Saturday afternoon, created a 66-foot hole in the ground, causing nearby buildings and houses to collapse, and igniting multiple fires, as reported by AFP.

Among the dead are four warehouse workers and the child, who was the son of one of the employees. The city's disaster office confirmed the fatalities and the number of injured, noting that eight individuals are in critical condition.

Incident investigation officer Luigi Chan stated that the explosion happened at the Zamboanga City site. The blast also caused extensive damage to a nearby soft drink factory, grain and flour warehouses, and surrounding homes, reducing them to rubble.

Investigators believe the explosion was caused by fireworks stored in the warehouse, spreading destruction over an area of 3,000 square meters. Firefighters worked for at least two hours to bring the blaze under control. The cause of the explosion is currently under investigation by authorities.