Cabuyao, Laguna fireworks factory death toll rises to 5

A five-year-old child injured in a fire at a fireworks factory in Cabuyao City, Laguna has died, pushing the death toll up to five, the local government unit said on Saturday.

The child was transferred to a hospital in Quezon City but did not survive, Aris Mane, chief information officer of Cabuyao LGU, said.

The fire gutted the fireworks factory in Barangay Bigaa on Thursday.

Two workers were initially reported dead while six were hurt and in critical condition, including the child.

However, on Friday, the death toll increased to four, the Police Regional Office 4A (PRO 4A) said.

The fatalities were identified by police as John Ronald Gonzales Deduro, 23 years old; Marvin Lamela Ocom, 27; Ricardo Olic-Olic, 51; and Bebot Reymundodia, 44.

While it had the proper permits, this was not the first time for the fireworks factory to be razed in a fire. There were no fatalities in the previous incidents.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the incident. —John Consulta/KG, GMA Integrated News