AN OIL factory located along Quezon Road in Barangay San Pablo Propio, San Simon exploded shortly before Tuesday midnight, November 26, causing fire in the oldest industrial park in the town.

Mayor Abundio Punsalan Jr. said the explosion at the Sunflare Industrial Supply Corporation, which is located inside the Powerplant Industrial Park, was heard around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 26.

Around eight fire trucks reportedly responded to the scene and a fire out was officially declared around 12:10 a.m. of November 27.

Punsalan said there was no reported casualty during the incident, adding that the factory does not operate at nighttime.

He said he already organized a joint inspection team to identify the cause of the explosion and the damage it caused to the properties in the vicinity.

"A joint inspection team composed of local police, firemen, and personnel from Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office and Business Permit Licensing Office were already deployed to investigate the incident and check if there is negligence on the part of the factory management," Punsalan said.

The Sunflare Industrial Supply is reportedly owned by a Chinese national identified as Aedy Yang, 35, a resident of Mexico, Pampanga.

A SunStar Pampanga source, who asked not to be named, alleged that the explosion was a result of the overheating of the factory oven that converts used oil into diesel.

Punsalan said the cost of damage to properties is still being assessed as adjacent warehouses were also affected by the incident.

"Powerpoint Industrial Park is now on lockdown to ensure the sensibility and legitimacy of the investigation," he said.