1 killed, 7 hurt in acetylene tank explosion in QC

(Update 5:54 p.m.) One person was killed while seven others were injured after an acetylene tank being used in a metal fabrication shop exploded in Brgy. Holy Spirit, Quezon City Wednesday morning, according to a television report.

In her report on GMA News TV's Balita Pilipinas, Marisol Abdurahman said one of the victims brought to the hospital died.
 

Supt. Eleazar Matta, Quezon City Police District Station 6 commander, said the eight victims were brought to Far Eastern University-Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation Medical Center and East Avenue Medical Center for treatment. 

 

“Initially may eight na isinugod sa ospital sa Far Eastern at East Avenue. Wala pang nare-receive (na information) kung may patay na,” he said in an interview with Balitanghali.

 

Abdurahman quoted one of the victims as saying that he and other victims were working at around 10 a.m. when he heard an explosion. The next thing the victim remembered was he was already being picked up on the road while his co-workers were all bloodied.

 

Matta said the house being used as metal fabrication shop was totally destroyed while the window panes of neighbors' houses were damaged. 

 

There was, however, no fire that erupted after the explosion.

 

He said they are investigating if the acetylene tank used was substandard.

 

“Walang pinagkaiba sa LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) tank na sumabog, dahil may mga tangke na substandard na nakakalusot sa merkado. Posibleng dahilan 'yun (ng pagsabog). Delikado po 'yan kaya 'yung mga naggagawa ng business using this kind of equipment, i-check po nila 'yung worthiness ng equipment nila para hindi tayo magkaroon ng insidenteng ganito,” he said.

 

The police are also investigating if the metal fabrication shop has a business permit.

 

“Residential (area) ito. 'Yung iba kinonvert sa business. May neighbor siya na vulcanizing shop, may tindahan at saka computer shop,” said Matta. —Amita O. Legaspi/KG/RSJ, GMA News