BY CRIS DIAZ
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY: Three civilians were injured while property damaged was pegged at P 27 million when the army’s 4ID ammunition depot exploded shortly before midnight Monday.
The volume of explosion that included ammos for 105 Howitzer cannons and other ammunitions for high powered fire arms lasted until past 1:00 a. m. Tuesday before the fire was placed under control past 3:00 in the morning.
Maj. Francisco P. Garello, Jr., head of the army’s 4ID’s Public Affairs Office, said that the injured were in stable condition while undergoing treatment in the army’s station hospital in Camp Evangelista in Patag, this city.
Garello said that the identities of the civilians and the nature of their injuries were withheld, but the military is extending medical assistance to the victims.
He said that about 61 families composed of 327 individuals residing within the 500-meter radius of the ammunition complex were evacuated to a safer ground in Camp Evangelista.
He said that the evacuees remained in the evacuation center Tuesday, but were immediately extended relief assistance. No casualties were reported on the military side.
According to Garello, an investigation was going on to determine the cause of the explosion and the fire that gutted down the army’s “Magazine 5” ammunition complex.
The army’s ammunition complex located at the back of the military camp stored ammunitions for various high powered firearms,
dynamites, bombs, grenades and other explosives.
The explosives were intended supplies for various military battalions and brigades of the army’s Fourth Infantry Division, one of Mindanao largest military camp covering North and Northeastern Mindanao Regions.-0-
