4 scavengers injured after explosion in Tondo

Four men were injured, including a 14-year-old boy now in critical condition, following a powerful explosion in Tondo, Manila over the weekend.

In Bea Pinlac's report on Unang Balita on Monday, the blast occurred at the corner of Tayuman and Dagupan Streets in Barangay 234 on Sunday afternoon, leaving the victims bloodied and sprawled on the sidewalk.

Witnesses described hearing a loud explosion that shook the area.

"Malakas, anlakas ng putok. Natakot nga kami," said Luisa de Leon, a nearby resident.

(It was loud, very loud. We were really scared.)

Barangay officials confirmed that all victims were scavengers collecting junk when the explosion happened.

"Biglang sumabog. Nagresponde ang mga tanod. Napag-alaman na scavenger, parang may kinakalakal, biglang sumabog," said Barangay Captain Arlene Tan.

(There was a sudden explosion. Our barangay watchmen responded. It turned out the victim was a scavenger working on something when it suddenly blew up.)

Among the most severely hurt was the teenage son of Jaime de Chavez Jr., who recounted the horrifying moment he found his child gravely injured.

“Wag ka matutulog, sabi ko sa kaniya. Hindi ko kakayanin kapag nawala ka. Kaya humihingi na ako ng tulong sa mga nasa paligid,” he added.

(I told him not to fall asleep. I won’t be able to take it if I lose him. I started asking people around for help. I was in complete shock. I just screamed.)

De Chavez’s 43-year-old brother and 59-year-old uncle were also injured in the blast and rushed to a hospital.

“Nakita ko sila lahat. Bulagta na eh. Duguan,” he said.

(I saw them all. They were already collapsed and bleeding.)

“Kaya kung sino po ang may pusong gusto tumulong sa amin, sana matulungan niyo kami. Talagang walang wala kaming mapagkukunan,” he appealed.

(So if anyone out there is willing to help us, we would really appreciate it. We truly have nothing.)

Initial reports indicate that the explosion was not caused by an explosive device, but by a compressor believed to be part of the collected junk.

“Isang compressor na nakuha nila allegedly sa isang kalakal at yun ang inaano nila kanina—parang pinukpok or binubuksan—nang bigla itong sumabog,” said MPD Station 2 chief Lt. Col. Gilbert Cruz.

(A compressor, reportedly from a pile of junk, was being handled—either hit or opened—when it suddenly exploded.)

De Chavez said a fellow scavenger had dropped off the junk before the incident.

“Doon niya po nilapag ‘yung mga kalakal niya. Tapos binigay niya sa amin ‘yung mga kalakal niyang iba kaya medyo nagtagal kami. Maya-maya, nung nagpapapalo na siya ng mga kalakal niya, biglang may sumabog,” he explained.

(He placed his junk there and gave us some of it, so we stayed a bit longer. Later, while he was pounding on some of his things, it suddenly exploded.)

Authorities are now investigating what kind of compressor may have caused the blast. — Sherilyn Untalan/RSJ, GMA Integrated News