TABUK CITY, Kalinga, Philippines – Three minors were injured when fireworks stalls caught fire simultaneously, 15-minutes before the New Year’s Eve celebration at the Bulanao Public Market, Tabuk City, Kalinga, on December 31.

According to PCapt. Ruff Manganip, of the Kalinga Provincial Police Office, the injured were a five-year-old girl, a ten-year-old girl, and a fourteen-year-old boy, all from Mindanao.

He said there were 20 fireworks stalls selling in the area, all of which were licensed, when a stray firecracker from the other side of the road hit one stall, causing the other stalls to catch fire one after the other and the fire quickly spread.

Personnel from the Philippine National Police–Bulanao and the Bureau of Fire Protection immediately responded to extinguish the fire, deeming the incident an accident.