Ormoc: Fireworks, explosions, and Fire kill 24 in dept store

Explosions fueled by fireworks and firecrackers some as powerful as hand granades ripped apart a store on Leyte Island in the central philippine city of Ormoc.

The reports are that the store had scores of small stalls added in selling wares from China on christmas day – a typical heavy shopping day in most parts of the country. Scores of people return to provincial cities and rural areas from the large metropolitan areas during the Christmas Holiday season.

A investigation revealed that many people sought to excape the flames in a bathroom at the rear of the store as the fire spread rapidly. Small hallways were blocked by stalls and stores and decorations that added fuel to the rapidly growing firestorm. More shops selling cheap fireworks also caught fire inside the store and small LPG tanks exploded causeing a three hour blaze late christmas day afternoon.

[] “… Christmas Day fire hits Ormoc dep’t store; 24 killed, 4 injured
(Update) At least 24 persons were killed while four others were injured in a fire believed to be caused by firecrackers at a one-storey department store in Ormoc City in Leyte province late Monday afternoon.

…”[]

More reports:

[]” … 24 Die as Fireworks Ignite Philippines Store Fire
New York Times – Dec. 26 (AP) – A fire that started with the use of illegally sold firecrackers swept through a department store in the central Philippines, killing 24 people who took refuge in a restroom, the police said Tuesday.
‘Exits locked’ in Philippines blaze Aljazeera.net
Philippine Department Store Fire Kills 24 People, ABS-CBN Says Bloomberg
Ottawa Recorder – CBC News – Forbes
all 253 news articles » ” []

This comes as reports from the DOH say a 111% increase in the number of fireworks and firearm related injuries in the capitol alone. Local BFP firemen warn about the dangers of fires. In my daily old grind of beat reporting at chrstmas to new years time the number of fires normally rise moslty with problems surrounding christmas lights. No one is safe – rich and poor aloke often fall victim to the rissk of overloaded circut breakers and old fuses. 06:10 AM » Firemen warn vs possible New Year fires (GMANEW.TV)