9 hurt in Navotas fishing boat blast

Nine crewmen were seriously injured after a leaking liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tank exploded on a fishing boat anchored in the Navotas fish port yesterday morning.

Doctors at the Tondo General Hospital gave Noel Concepcion, 24, and Bernard Belleza, both oilers and residents of San Jose, Navotas, a 50-50 chance of survival due to extensive burns. They will be transferred to the Chinese General Hospital burn unit for intensive medical treatment.

The others injured, Merlo Torres, fishing boat captain, Joselito Ababao, master engineer, and Joy Pronto, Leandro delos Santos, Ronaldo Casillo, Leonardo Gonzales Jr. and Bernard Caldero, all crewmen, were also taken to the Chinese General Hospital.

Steersman Benjamin Caldino was unhurt because he was on the other side of the boat.

Coast Guard reports showed the explosion took place on board the F/B Villy Oliver at 8:45 a.m. yesterday while the vessel was anchored 250 meters away from Pier 1 of the Navotas Fish Port along North Bay Boulevard.

In a two-page report, the Philippine Coast Guard said, prior to the explosion, the men, who were repairing the boat, smelled the leaking gas. But before they could trace it, an explosion suddenly occurred. The boat was totally razed by fire after the explosion.

Lieutenant Ronaldo Punzalan, spokesperson of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), said they are conducting a thorough investigation.

"As of this time, Maritime investigators traced that the explosion was caused by the leaking gas tank in the galley of the boat. This is now the angle being verified," Punzalan said.