Three injured in Bacolod LPG explosion

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD CITY – Three people were wounded in a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) explosion at Purok Kametal, Barangay Mandalagan, last Monday.

Fire Officer 2 (FO2) Rolin Paulan, chief arson investigator of Bacolod City Fire Station, said fumes from a leaked LPG tank might have caused the explosion.

Paulan reported that a van was carrying 12 LPG tanks, including seven 11-kilogram tanks and five 50-kilogram tanks, when the explosion occurred around 2:35 p.m.

He said the LPG retailer and his two helpers were inside the vehicle when the blast happened. Fortunately, they were not severely harmed, as the seats served as barriers.

The three people suffered minor burns and were advised to go home after the incident, according to Paulan.

Paulan mentioned that the vehicle was wrecked, and the blast caused an estimated P700,000 worth of damage, based on the assessed value of the vehicle.

He stated that they are still investigating the incident to determine the actual cause of the blast. They are also waiting for statements from the three victims to aid in the investigation.

Paulan noted that, according to the owner, they have a conveyance permit allowing them to transport LPG tanks.

He said they required the owner to submit proof of his claims regarding the alleged transport of the LPG tanks.

Paulan added that they do not yet know if the LPG tanks were supposed to be delivered or if they were the owner’s supplies for his retail business.

“We’re trying to figure out other details,” he added.