At least five people were killed and 32 others were wounded in a powerful explosion that tore through a firecracker factory south of the Philippine capital on Thursday, police and officials said. The mid-morning explosion also triggered a fire that gutted the Star Maker factory in a town around 50 kilometers (30 miles) south of Manila, officials said. "The explosion was so powerful that it broke window panes even at the municipal hall more than a kilometer away," town mayor Melencio Sagun said, adding that the victims were mostly factory workers. Local health officer Vilma Diez said 32 blast victims had been rushed to hospital. She confirmed only one fatality, but police said at least four others had been seen inside the burnt out wreck.