Lapu eatery gas stove explodes, injures cook,crew

CEBU, Philippines - Two workers of an eatery shop along J.P. Rizal Street in Barangay Poblacion in Lapu-Lapu City landed in a hospital after they sustained second degree burns when a gas stove exploded inside the establishment yesterday noon.

Jomel Rosas, 24, cook, and Virginia Nasipo, 37, crew, both of Marita Soriano's eatery were brought immediately to Lapu-Lapu City Hospital for medical treatment.

Rosas sustained burns in his upper and lower extremities while Nasipo sustained burns in her left face and upper left extremities. They were later transferred to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center for further medical treatment.

A team from the Lapu-Lapu City Fire Department headed by fire investigator FO3 Climaco Salisid responded to the area.

Upon initial investigation, it was found out that while Rosas and Nasipo were busy cooking at the eatery's small kitchen, the gas stove suddenly exploded and the kerosene that got splashed to the victims' bodies was engulfed by fire.

Both victims ran outside the eatery while the customers who were eating that time scampered away after hearing the explosion.

According to Salisid, the gas stove with a tank was damaged. He believed that it must have leaked and thus causing the explosion. He, however, said the fire did not cause any damage to the eatery's structure.

Excluding hospital charges, the damage was pegged at P500, the cost of the stove that exploded. (FREEMAN)