Serendra blast was so strong it shook the surrounding area – observers

(Updated 7:20 p.m., 2 June 2013) The explosion that ripped through a building in the Serendra complex in upscale Bonifacio Global City last Friday night was so strong that it sent shockwaves through the area, according to accounts gathered through YouScoop, GMA News' citizen journalism arm.

Joemer Cahayon was in a coffee shop nearby when the blast hit the Two Serendra condominium building.

"I was across the street inside Starbucks and was having a meeting. Bigla na lang may sumabog sa labas na malakas. Akala namin sa SM [Aura] yung nangyari. [But] when we went out, nakita ko na nandoon pala sa tapat ng Serendra building yung dalawang sasakyan," he told YouScoop.

The blast caused a large slab of concrete from the building to land on a delivery van below, killing all three of its occupants. The van hit another vehicle, but nobody inside it was reported hurt.

"My first thought was nagkabanggaan, pero bakit malakas? Nakita ko 'yung dalawang bato na nakapatong sa delivery van, sabi ko, ano ba 'to, action movie? Sa left side, fourth floor ng Serendra, isang buong wall pala yung bumagsak," Cahayon said.

Cahayon saw guards assisting some of the wounded, and he himself helped a man with an injured arm until rescue units finally arrived.

Another Youscooper, EJ David, said the nearby building he was working in shook when the blast hit.

"Nasa W Building ako, second floor, noong naramdam namin yung explosion. Yumanig at gumalaw yung buong building. May wine store na nasira rin, malapit lang yung wine store na yun doon sa sumabog na condo. Pinapa-back away na ng police yung mga tao," he said.

Alexis Matel said she and her companions were having dinner in the Serendra complex when they heard a sound like thunder and felt the area shake.

"We were at Serendra ground floor having dinner, narinig namin parang thunder, di namin alam na explosion, at yumanig yung area. Lumabas kami to check kung anong nangyari at nakita namin yung truck," she said.

Joanne Dela Rama was in her friend's Serendra unit on the 7th floor.

"Nasa couch kami, tapos narinig namin yung sumabog. Mapapatayo ka talaga sa lakas. Umurong kami kaagad from the window sa takot. We moved out na to be safe. Yung apartment ng friend ko, cover ng aircon, salamin ng mga bintana, at frames ng picture ang nahulog," she said.

Cause of explosion undetermined

In a press conference on Saturday, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas II said that as of now, the cause of the explosion is still undetermined.

However, he noted that K-9 units did not find any bomb traces when these scoured the scene of the explosion.

Roxas cautioned people against jumping into conclusions and urged them to wait for the results of the investigation being done by the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Saturday afternoon officially issued a correction hours after reporting that six people died in the Serendra explosion.

In a 1:00 p.m. update, the NDRRMC said "only three are confirmed dead instead of six."

The NDRRMC identified the three as:

- Jeffrey Cunanan, 32
- Marlon Bandola, 28
- Salvador Natividad Malda, 42

The three were passengers of an appliance store's delivery van that was hit by concrete.

The NDRRMC said there were five injured, one of whom suffered burns. Three suffered minor injuries while one was traumatized. - Gian C. Geronimo/VVP/BM, GMA News