Roadside firecracker explosion leaves one dead and one critically injured in Tondo
- A powerful explosion involving an unidentified firecracker killed one person and seriously injured another at a busy Tondo intersection on Sunday night
- The blast occurred at the corner of A. Lorenzo St. and Abad Santos Avenue, an area known for high foot traffic during the holiday season
- Authorities are currently conducting a forensic analysis to determine if the device used was an illegal or modified high-yield firecracker
- Following the tragedy, local police have issued a stern reminder to the public regarding the life-threatening risks of using prohibited pyrotechnics for New Year celebrations
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The anticipated joy of the approaching New Year was replaced by a sudden and violent grief in the heart of Tondo on Sunday night.
Source: Facebook
What should have been a quiet evening in a bustling neighborhood turned into a scene of chaos and heartbreak when an unidentified firecracker detonated prematurely, claiming the life of one individual and leaving another fighting for recovery.
The incident occurred late Sunday evening, December 28, at the intersection of A. Lorenzo Street and Abad Santos Avenue.
According to initial reports, the victims were in the area when a powerful explosive, the exact type of which remains under investigation by authorities, unexpectedly went off.
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The force of the blast was so severe that one victim was killed nearly instantly, while the second was rushed to a nearby hospital with critical injuries.
The tragedy serves as a somber reminder of the hidden dangers that often accompany holiday traditions.
While the streets of Manila usually begin to echo with the sounds of early revelry during this week, this specific incident has cast a pall over the local community.
Witnesses described a deafening sound followed by thick smoke, a stark contrast to the festive lights that usually adorn the district this time of year.
Manila police and emergency responders arrived quickly to secure the perimeter and provide medical aid.
As of Monday morning, forensic teams are still combing the site to identify the components of the explosive, as authorities suspect it may have been an oversized or illegal "big-bang" type firecracker often sold surreptitiously ahead of the New Year’s Eve countdown.
Beyond the legal investigations and casualty counts, there is a human story of families now facing the start of 2026 with an empty chair at the table.
Local officials have renewed their urgent pleas for the public to avoid prohibited pyrotechnics, stressing that a few seconds of noise is never worth the permanent loss of a human life.
In other news, a sinister package containing live .45-caliber ammunition was discovered at a residence in Barangay 5-D, with the bullets specifically inscribed with the names of three local government volunteers and a death threat. Audit team members Ernie Empemano and Rene Amorao link the harassment to their current duty of scrutinizing high-profile infrastructure projects authorized by the city's previous administration. Despite the clear attempt to silence them, the volunteers publicly stated that their work would proceed, noting that transparency should only be a concern for those involved in past irregularities. Police Lieutenant Colonel Redentor Tiraña and the San Pablo City Police Force have initiated a formal inquiry to identify the individuals responsible for sending the threatening ammunition.
Still in other news, a significant portion of Davao City was plunged into darkness on Christmas morning after a man climbed a utility pole and began walking across dangerous electrical cables in Barangay Ilang. To facilitate a safe rescue, Davao Light and Power Co. temporarily deactivated 69kV transmission lines, affecting multiple neighborhoods from Tibungco to Panacan for several hours. Following a successful rescue by the BFP and local police, it was revealed the man was suffering from drug-induced hallucinations and believed he was scaling the pole to evade an imaginary pursuer. While the individual was brought down safely and electricity was restored by early afternoon, authorities confirmed he will face legal complaints for alarm and scandal related to the disruption.
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Source: KAMI.com.gh
