1 killed, 7 injured in Quezon City gas blast

MANILA, Philippines— One was killed and seven others were wounded after an acetylene tank exploded at a residential area in Quezon City Wednesday morning, police said.

Most of the victims were hit by objects sent flying by the blast and were taken to the Far Eastern University Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation and the East Avenue Medical Center.

Police Superintendent Eleazar Matta, Quezon City Police District-Station 6 commander, said one alias Jon Jon was among those rushed to the hospital, but later died, following the explosion inside a metal

fabrication shop along Sta. Catalina corner Sta. Monica in Barangay (village) Holy Spirit past 10 a.m.

Matta identified the victims as the spouses Leonilo and Ding Pasanillo; Ariel Pastrana; Joel Pastrana; and four others whose nicknames only were given: Fe, Leo and Ted.

Matta said the shop, originally a residential establishment, was totally damaged due to explosion of acetylene tank. Windows of an adjacent house were also shattered.

This incident can be compared to when a Liquefied Petroleum Gas explodes, Matta explained, as he warned businessmen not to buy substandard tanks which may cause such explosion.

Matta said authorities are set to check if the shop has a business permit issued by the city hall, considering that this kind of business is supposedly not allowed in a residential area.

“Delikado po ito acetylene tank sa residential area at kaya yung mga gumagawa ng business using this kind of equipment ay pakidoble check muna yung worthiness ng kanilang equipment upang hindi magkaroon ng ganitong insidente ulit,” Matta said.

According to manual of the Health and Safety Executive in the United Kingdom, available on its website www.hse.gov.uk, acetylene is an extremely inflammable and unstable gas. It has the tendency to “decompose explosively” to its elements carbon and hydrogen. A “flashback,” which occurs when there is a mixture of fuel and oxygen in the hose when a torch is ignited, triggers the decomposition.

The manual states that an explosion usually happens at least three minutes after a flashback.

 Originally posted at 12:01 p.m.