Firecracker mishap claims 12-year-old boy

A 12-year-old boy was killed and his 12-year-old companion was injured Sunday night when a firecracker exploded while they were holding it in Manila’s Tondo district, authorities said.

A tricycle driver told investigators he saw the two children sitting on a sidewalk holding an unidentified firecracker along A. Lorenzo Street near the corner of Jose Abad Santos Avenue at approximately 8:23 p.m.

Moments later, an explosion occurred.

The blast was captured by security cameras in Barangay 224. One child died at the scene, while the other was rushed to a nearby hospital.

Candy Delos Reyes, the mother of the injured boy, said her son is scheduled to undergo surgery. She said her son had told her he was going out briefly to buy something before she heard a loud blast.

Local officials believe the children may have found a discarded firecracker that failed to detonate the previous night.

“We were told that someone used firecrackers there last night. One exploded, but the other did not and was reportedly doused with water,” said Cyron Reyes, a councilman for Barangay 223.

“The children might have picked it up and tried to light it,” he added.

The councilman cited that the sale and use of firecrackers are strictly prohibited in the area.

Meantime, the Manila Police District said the investigation is ongoing to determine the specific type of firecracker involved and how the children obtained it.