32 hurt in LPG tank explosion in Legazpi City
LEGAZPI CITY — At least 32 persons were injured when a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tank exploded inside a newly opened food stall in this city on Saturday morning.
All the injured were being treated at a hospital in the city, he said.
Earlier reports said the victims were attending the blessing of a new food stall at the ground floor of the Cal Courtyard building in Barangay Pinaric at around 11:30 a.m. when the explosion occurred.
Ryan Priela, 36, a resident of Ligao City who was at the obstetrician-gynecologist clinic on the second floor of the building accompanying his pregnant wife for a checkup , said they heard a loud sound from the ground floor that caused the glass wall of the clinic to break.
Priela, in a private message, said it was followed by another explosion. He also heard shouts and screams from the ground floor.
“The first explosion was very loud that even those on the second floor were affected. The second explosion wasn’t as loud, but we felt the building shaking,” he said.
Damaged building
After a few minutes, he said, the rescue officers guided them to the ground floor, where they saw injured victims and damaged stalls.
Villanueva said due to the impact, the ceiling, walls and other structure of the store was damaged, including the other parts of the three stalls inside the building.
“The tank was possibly placed outside and connected to the pipe leading to the store. We still can’t determine where the leak started and why the impact was that strong,” Villanueva said the a phone interview.
Police and PFP authorities were still determining what caused the LPG tank to explode.
