3 injured in explosion at Shaw Blvd. gas station

Three men –a fishball vendor, balut vendor, and backhoe operator – were injured from an explosion that caused a fire at a gasoline station on Shaw Boulevard in WackWack, Mandaluyong City on Friday afternoon.

Senior Fire Officer 3 Victorio Tablay, Bureau of Fire and Protection (BFP) Mandaluyong chief arson investigator, identified the victims as Raymund Cabe, 34, a fishball vendor; Bonifacio Base, 70, a balut vendor; and Orlando Aquino Salud Jr., 23; a backhoe operator.

Reports said that Cabe and Salud were rushed to the Victor R Potenciano Medical Center, and Mandaluyong City Medical Center.

The 70-year-old balut vendor was found hours after the two other victims were brought to nearby hospitals. Base was earlier reported missing.

The bike of the balut vendor, according to Tablay, was found near the explosion site.

Investigation showed that the explosion was caused by an underground LPG tank that was hit while workers were excavating the ground at around 2:20 p.m.

“The backhoe operator accidentally hit the LPG tank under the ground. But luckily, it was not filled as it was emptied weeks ago, so the explosion was not that strong,” Tablay said in a phone interview with Manila Bulletin. “It was only a mild explosion.

Tablay told the Manila Bulletin that Cabe sustained around 90 percent third degree burn while Base had around 80 percent third degree burn. Meantime, Salud sustained multiple facial abrasion.

Currently, he said that the three victims are still recuperating at the respective hospitals where they were rushed.

The fire was declared under control at around 5:20 p.m., Tablay said.