20 hurt in LPG tank explosion in Malate

Twenty people were injured after a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tank exploded in a fourstory commercial building on Fidel Reyes Street in Barangay 708, Malate, Manila on Monday, Jan. 30, the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) said.

The Manila Police District (MPD) identified 16 of the 20 victims as Julius Opaque, 47; Marilyn Viray, 51; Clarence Cabrera, 28; Jimmy Cabrera, 33; Dionisio Aguinsatan, 51; Janine Aguinsatan, 31; Jaille Fito, 43; Almonsor Panda Moro, 20; Alyssa Paliwan Concha, 27; Ken Santos, 19; Ten Pizaña, 18; Freddy Boy, 46; Reuben Burgenio, 20; Angel Vivas, 51; Jose Luis Mattias Montilla, 18; and a 17-year-old girl.

The city's DRRMO said nine of the victims were rushed to

Adventist Medical Hospital, seven to Philippine General Hospital, two to Ospital ng Maynila, and two others to De La Salle University (DLSU) hospital.

It added that 16 of the victims were already discharged from the hospital, while four are still confined as of 9 a.m., Jan. 31.

The victims are the establishments' personnel and customers, dormitory boarders, and bystanders. They sustained burns and

wounds due to shattered glass panels, MPD said.

According to Lt. Col. Salvador Tangdol, MPD Malate Police Station 9 commander, an LPG tank exploded due to a gas leak, triggering a fire at 7:19 p.m.

About 10 fire trucks responded to the scene and extinguished the blaze at 7:34 p.m.

Tangdol said the explosion and fire occurred on the first floor of the building, which is a laundry shop.

The impact of the explosion affected the second floor of the building, which is a billiard hall. The fire did not cause damage to the upper floors as it was

immediately extinguished.

Meanwhile, the DLSU administration said some of its students sustained minor injuries.

"While the incident did not reach campus premises, some students in the vicinity had minor injuries. They were immediately given first aid and medical attention," it stated on a Facebook post.

It added that the explosion did not cause any damage to the university property and all injured students were discharged from the hospital.

However, one of its security guards is still recovering in the hospital.