MANILA, July 8 (Xinhua) -- At least 19 people, including soldiers, police, and firefighters, were injured after a massive pile of recovered firecrackers and pyrotechnics exploded near a marine camp in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines on Monday afternoon, police said.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Helen Galvez, the regional police command spokesperson, said the massive explosion, which occurred past 5 p.m. local time in a vacant lot, also damaged several vehicles issued to the military, police, and firefighters parked nearby.

She said the blast also caused minor damage to several residential houses and structures in the area.

Among the injured men in uniforms were six police officers, five marine soldiers, three coast guard personnel, and five firefighters. They were taken to hospitals in the city.

Initial police investigation disclosed that the blast occurred when the disposal team from the police and marines explosive ordnance disposal units were laying the recovered firecrackers and pyrotechnics retrieved from the warehouse that exploded on June 29.

On June 29, a powerful explosion ripped through a firecracker warehouse in Zamboanga City, killing five and wounding at least 20. Enditem

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