AT least 16 persons were injured after an LPG tank exploded in a laundry shop in Manila, Monday night.
Among those hurt were students who were playing in a billiard hall located above the laundry shop.
“Habang nagchi-chikahan kami, nagulat na lang kami may nag-explode. Tapos chinek namin sarili namin, ayun, duguan na,” said one of the victims.
The victim sustained wounds in his arms and neck after shards from a glass sliding door hit him during the explosion, which was blamed on an LPG tank.
According to the staff of an adjacent restaurant, employees of the laundry shop had sought their help prior to the explosion.
According to the laundry shop’s owner, two LPG tanks were delivered to them earlier in the day for their dryer, but it was discovered later that only one was connected. One had a line dangling and may have caused a gas leak.
“Nagkaroon ng gas leak doon sa isang laundry shop sa Taft Avenue at nag-result ito sa isang positive explosion kung saan maraming nasa paligid ang na-injure,” said Police Brigadier General Andre Dizon, Manila Police District chief.
The owner of the laundry show has promised to shoulder the medical bills of the victims. The victims’ families, however, are mulling filing a complaint against the laundry shop’s owner.
Investigation is still ongoing, said the Bureau of Fire Protection.
