Boat blast victim found in Navotas

The body of fishing boat technician reported missing after a leaking liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tank exploded inside the boat was fished out by the police from the Malabon-Navotas River on Monday night.

Members of the search and rescue operations of the Maritime Police recovered the remains of Moises Nuevo, 34, a resident of Navotas.

Police Officer 2 Fortunato Severo, officer-on-case, said the body of Nuevo bore five wounds along with lacerations and bruises caused by the blast.

Nuevo was one of the crewmen of the F/B Villy Oliver fishing vessel that burned while anchored 250 meters away from Pier 1 of the Navotas Fish Port along North Bay Boulevard.

Nine of Nuevo’s co-workers were injured in the explosion, which investigators said was caused by a leaking LPG tank.

Severo said Noel Concepcion, 24 and Bernard Belleza, both boilers and living at San Jose, Navotas, were given a 50-50 chance by doctors at the Tondo General Hospital to survive because of the injuries they suffered.

Police identified the other victims as Merlo Torres; skipper of the fishing boat; Joselito Ababao, master engineer, and Joy Pronto, Leandro delos Santos, Ronaldo Castillo, Leonardo Gonzalez Jr. and Bernard Caldero.

The explosion of the leaking LPG tank set the fishing boat on fire. – Cecille Suerte Felipe