Phú Thọ police officers work at the scene of the explosion. Photos courtesy of Phú Thọ Provincial Police

PHÚ THỌ — One person was killed and three others seriously injured in an explosion at a rental room in Bình Xuyên Commune, Phú Thọ Province, on Saturday afternoon.

According to the Phú Thọ Provincial Police, the explosion occurred at around 1.10pm at Room 404 in a rental complex in Phục Khải Hamlet.

Police officers were dispatched to the scene shortly after the incident to secure the area, examine the site and investigate the cause of the explosion.

Local residents said they heard a loud blast at the time of the incident.

Đào Văn Cường, who lives near the rental complex, said he was sleeping when he was startled by a powerful explosion. He ran outside and saw thick clouds of smoke and dust rising from the row of rental rooms.

Yellow powder suspected to be sulphur and black powder suspected to be pyrotechnic powder found at the scene.

During their examination of the scene, police found numerous firecracker casings and finished firecrackers, along with quantities of yellow and black powder suspected to be materials used to make firecrackers.

Initial findings indicate that the explosion was linked to the illegal production of firecrackers.

A young man was killed at the scene, while three other young men sustained serious injuries and were taken to Vĩnh Phúc General Hospital for emergency treatment.

The explosion damaged rental rooms 403, 404 and 405, as well as several other rooms and part of the corrugated-metal roofing over the complex’s shared courtyard.

Police are continuing their investigation to determine the actions of those involved and trace the source of the materials allegedly used to manufacture the firecrackers. — VNS