11 hurt in Kabankalan Charter Day fireworks blast

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Eleven people, including a minor, sustained minor injuries when fireworks exploded in a crowd during the culmination of Kabankalan City’s 29th Charter Day celebration and inaugural Kabuganaan Festival on Sunday night.

The victims included a 17-year-old male student, an Army reservist, a government employee, an event production staff member, sound operators, an office staff member, a teacher and a production manager, according to police.

Fire Officer 3 Alfie Gravela, officer in charge and chief arson investigator of the Bureau of Fire Protection-Kabankalan, said the fireworks display was being operated at the football field in Barangay 4 when the devices allegedly malfunctioned.

The fireworks prematurely exploded on the ground instead of launching into the air, Gravela said.

Police said debris from the explosion struck spectators and event personnel watching the presentation.

Police officers assigned to the event immediately secured the area to prevent further injuries.

Emergency medical responders and other agencies assisted the victims and transported them to a hospital.

Gravela said all the victims sustained minor burns, received treatment and were later discharged from the hospital.

The BFP-Kabankalan and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit are jointly investigating the exact cause of the explosion.

Investigators are also determining whether negligence or violations of laws and regulations governing pyrotechnic devices contributed to the incident.

Under Executive Order 28, a community fireworks display must be supervised by a trained person licensed by the Philippine National Police.

The order also requires a city or municipal permit specifying the display’s date, time and location.

Republic Act 7183 regulates the manufacture, sale, distribution and use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic devices to protect public safety.

Authorities have not announced whether the operator and display complied with all licensing, permit and safety requirements.

With the theme “Kabuganaan sang Kabankalan, Kadalag-an Para sa Tanan,” the city government marked another milestone in Kabankalan’s growth and development during its Charter Day celebration.