Fire kills two at Marikina bus terminal

Two people died due to a fire that hit a bus terminal in Barangay Calumpang, Marikina City on Sunday morning.

The fire broke out at 9:24 a.m. at the BFCT East Metro Transport Terminal, and reached the first alarm, according to a report by Luisito Santos on Super Radyo dzBB.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is still verifying the identity of the fatalities whose bodies were found between a burned truck and bus parked in the terminal.

The BFP is also still determining the cause of the fire, which burned down several vehicles.

LOOK: 3 Sasakyan ang nasunog sa BFCT terminal sa Marikina City @dzbb pic.twitter.com/mnvHythNLv

— Luisito Santos (@luisitosantos03) December 17, 2023

A big truck, a bus, and a van were particularly affected by the fire.

Witnesses said they heard several explosions before the fire started.

The BFP is now looking at the possibility that firecrackers were being carried by one of the trucks, which might have caused the fire.

Meanwhile, a report by Luisito Santos of Super Radyo DZBB on Sunday afternoon revealed that investigation by the Eastern Police District and the BFP confirmed the fire was caused by fireworks stored inside the truck.

PBGen. Wilson Asueta, EPD Director, said the cause of the explosion was a cargo of fireworks inside the truck that had just returned from Taytay, Rizal with a load of fabrics on Saturday evening.

The fireworks, along with the combustible materials, created a fire that consumed the other vehicles parked beside it.

The fatalities were identified as the truck's driver who was inside the vehicle and his assistant, who was beside it, at the time of the explosion.

Asueta said they are are now looking at the truck owner's culpability in the incident.

The EPD also informed the public that carrying fireworks in cargo trucks requires a permit.—Giselle Ombay/KG/RF, GMA Integrated News