MANILA, Philippines ? A leaking liquefied petroleum gas tank was blamed for a fire that razed a house in Tondo, Manila, Friday morning, injuring four members of the household, including a 70-year-old woman and an 18-year-old boy.
The fire started at 8:05 a.m. in the kitchen on the ground floor of the two-story house at 1885 Velasquez Street, firemen said.
Ronaldo Babas, 45, and Rodolfo Morales, 42, suffered second-degree burns in 50 percent of their bodies, while Babas' son Reinier had 30-40 percent of his body burnt. Anita Babas sustained minor injuries.
Fire Officer 2 Lords Hernandez, the arson investigator, said the victims were rushed to the Mary Johnston Hospital.
Babas told investigators that they were switching on a newly installed LPG tank when the gas blew up, injuring the four victims.
But Hernandez said the cause of the blaze remained under investigation.
The fire was put out at 9:05 a.m.