TWO children—ages two and five—and their mother were killed in another explosion at a firecrackers factory in a village in Santa Maria, Bulacan on Wednesday morning. The blast also wounded four workers at AA Firecracker Manufacturing owned by Wilfredo Alonzo in Sitio Bangka-bangkaan, Barangay Pulong Buhangin. The children were brought along by their mother to bring food to their father who was working at the factory. Aaron Aquino, Police Region Office 3 director, ordered the inspection of all firecracker manufacturers/warehouses and stores within the region, particularly in Bulacan. Aside from Bocaue town that is known as the firecracker capital of the Philippines, the fireworks industry also thrives in Santa Maria town where more factories and stores had opened in recent years.

Source: Manila Times November 23, 2016 13:33 UTC