THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has reported three of its men were injured during the explosion that occurred at Zone 2, Barangay Cabatangan, Zamboanga City, at around 5:35 in the afternoon of July 8.
One PCG enlisted personnel with the rank of Petty Officer Third Class (PO3) was severely injured, while two others with the rank of PO3 and Seaman First Class (SN1) sustained minor injuries.
The report said the blast also hurt six policemen and five each from the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Philippine Marines– bringing the total number of victims to 19.
Agence France Presse reported however, that 27 were injured in the “accidental explosion.”
The incident occurred during the disposal of confiscated firecrackers at Barangay Tetuan on 29 June 2024.
The police said the “premature detonation” that severely wounded five of the 19 affected uniformed personnel who were part of the joint operation.
