Blast razes 30 cracker stalls in Iloilo City

ILOILO CITY — At least 30 stalls of firecrackers at the plaza in Jaro district went up in smoke the other day when a wayward lighted "rocket" reportedly landed near the kiosks and triggered explosions for 20 minutes.

The blast also destroyed a vehicle used by officials of Barangay Bito-on. Nobody was reported injured in the incident.

Police were looking into other reports that an explosion in one of the stalls caused the incident.

City officials had decided to locate firecracker stalls at plazas to lessen the crowd at the downtown area and protect huge establishments from possible firecracker-related blazes. — Leo Solinap