THREE people were injured when fire and a series of explosions struck the Army’s 4th Infantry Division munitions depot in Barangay Patag, Cagayan de Oro City last night.

The explosion even triggered a panic of fleeing people from inside and outside the camp.

It was reported that over 40 family residents near Magazine 5 suffered trauma that caught fire inside the Ammo Complex.

“It was like ‘war’ and ‘new year’ they witnessed and the chunkammo exploded,” said one of the residents who were now at the evacuation center.

The evacuees have not been allowed to return to their homes while awaiting EOD clearing.

4ID public affairs unit chief Maj. Francisco Garello said a fire incident broke out in one of the buildings inside the ammunition complex of the 10th Forward Service Support Unit.

Garello said the building houses 155mm Howitzer rounds and various small arms ammunition, causing a series of loud explosions.

“Three civilians incurred minor wounds due to shrapnel,” said Garello.

He said there was no casualty from the military personnel and the injured civilians were now treated at Camp Evangelista Station Hospital.

In a statement, Garello said the fire was declared out at 3:10 am, as the cause of the incident is yet to be determined as of this writing.

“Fire trucks could not get near the burning structure due to dangerous explosions,” said Garello.

He said some eleven fire trucks from the city have responded.

All personnel near the incident site were evacuated for safety, according to Garello.

He added that even civilians nearby were advised to evacuate to the 4ID Gymnasium, the designated evacuation center within the camp.

The incident area needs a cooling period before EOD personnel could move in to clear the area, according to Garello.

He said that when the residual fire would have been completely contained, Army investigating team including city fire authorities will come in to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the incident.

In the meantime, the command administers psycho-social support and stress debriefing to affected individuals in coordination with the officials of Barangay Patag and the City Social Welfare and Development at the 4ID Gym used as an evacuation center.