bighorncasino|5 dead, 20 hurt in firecracker warehouse explosion in southern Philippines

MANILAbighorncasino, June 29 (Xinhua) -- A powerful explosion ripped through a firecracker warehouse in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines Saturday afternoon, killing five and wounding at least 20.

Local authorities said the blast, which happened shortly after 4 p.m. local time, created a 1.14-km impact radius and damaged houses and commercial establishments near the warehouse.

City Mayor John Dalipe, who rushed to the blast site, confirmed to reporters that five people died and rescuers rushed 20 more to hospitals.

The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office listed eight patients in critical condition.

Police Colonel Kimberly Molitas, the officer-in-charge director of the Zamboanga City Police, said that a child was among those killed in the accident.

She told reporters that firefighters and the police are investigating the cause of the blast.■