AN Army ammunition depot in Cagayan de Oro City was razed by fire past yesterday, causing a series of explosions that injured three civilians.
Probers are still determining what caused the fire that broke out in one of the storage facilities of the 10th Forward Service Support Unit inside Camp Evangelista, home of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division (ID).
4ID spokesman Maj. Francisco Garello said some 132 rounds of ammunition for 155 mm howitzers and a still undermined number of small arms ammunition were stored at the half-dug depot.
“There was no casualty from the military personnel but three civilians incurred minor wounds due to shrapnel,” said Garello, adding the injured are being treated at the Camp Evangelista Station Hospital.
Garello said the injured civilians were living in houses situated at the back of the depot.
Garello said firefighters could not immediately get near the site “due to dangerous explosions.” He said the fire which started just past midnight was put out at around 3:10 a.m.
“It (fire) caused a series of loud explosions,” said Garello.
Garello said the impact of the explosions was minimal. “It’s not completely above ground, it’s below ground, it’s dug in so the impact was limited,” he said.
As of yesterday afternoon, Garello said, personnel from the Army Explosive and Ordnance Disposal are in the area, conducting clearing operations.
Forty-nine families, composed of 233 individuals, living near the razed ammunition depot were evacuated to the Camp Evangelista gym and to the Barangay Patag covered court as a precaution.
“Army medical personnel provided stress debriefing and psychosocial support for the said families,” said Army spokesman Col. Xerxes Trinidad.
Trinidad said the military has also coordinated with the local social welfare and development office to assist the displaced families.
The military, in coordination with the city fire station, has commenced a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the incident.
