Sunday, November 26, 2006 Worker killed in firecrackers blast By Erwin Ambo S. Delilan
A man was killed and another was injured in a blast at a pyrotechnic factory in San Manuel, Barangay 1, Hinigaran town Friday afternoon.
A third worker escaped unscathed shortly before a wick ignited, destroying an undetermined worth of firecrackers and the factory owned by Rosauro Pelagio.
The factory is just about 300 meters away fromHinigaran proper.
Killed on the spot was Morito Manong, 34, also of sanManuel.
Pelagio, who was also inside when the blast happened, was injured and remains confined at the Riverside Medical Center in Bacolod as of press time.
The third worker identified as Johnrey Sabido managed to escape.
It is not very clear whether Pelagio's family or their representative have already extended assistance to the family of Manong.
Investigators were unable to immediately determine the exact amount of damage that the explosion caused.
Chief Inspector Rosauro Francisco, Hinigaran Police Station chief, said initial investigation showed that the late Manong was cutting a dried string when it suddenly sparked, igniting the stocked gunpowder nearby.
The string is used as wick for firecrackers.
"It was a big explosion and almost everyone inHinigaran panicked when it happened," Francisco said.
He was thankful though that not one was hurt in the community, which was just about 50 meters away from the left side of Pelagio's factory.
The factory is located between a fish pond and a dumpsite in Barangay 1.
"The factory has a permit and its operation is legal. What happened was purely an accident," Francisco stressed.
Sun.Star Bacolod tried but failed get the comment of Hinigaran Mayor Caroll Guanco until presstime.
Francisco however said the mayor has instructed him to immediately inspect all pyrotechnic factories in Barangay 1 Saturday.
"We received copies of permits and only about 30 manufacturers in the area are licensed. Those who have no permits will be automatically padlocked (today)," he said.
As stated in the permit, all factories must be a 100 meters away from residential areas.
Aside from being famous in "talaba" (oysters), Hinigaran is also known as the "firecrackers and pyrotechnics capital" of Negros Occidental.
