Another powerful firecracker explosion in the northern Philippine province of Benguet on Thursday left two wounded and raised fears hours before President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's visit there.

The blast occurred at a marketplace in La Trinidad, the capital city of Benguet, some 250 kilometers to the north of Manila, while local reports quoted police as saying that it was just an "accident", after which two people were sent to the hospital.

President Arroyo was scheduled to visit the Bontoc State University on Thursday afternoon in Buguias town of La Trinidad to send off Manila-bound trucks loaded with vegetables, a report by GMA TV said.

The report said that the university is about 700 meters away from the explosion site, so police could not rule out attack attempts against the president immediately.

Police officials in the region deployed additional forces in key areas of the province following the incident, the report said.

A fire caused by firecrackers at a department store in Ormoc City, Leyte Province on Christmas Day killed 25 people. A fire in Marikina City, Metro Manila where 20 houses were destroyed was also reportedly caused by firecrackers.

The government has ordered a safety check over firecracker markets before the New Year celebrations.

Source: Xinhua