Toxic fumes kill two in Navotas

Two crew members were killed and two were reported in serious condition after being suffocated by suspected toxic fumes from the waste depository of a shipping vessel docked and being rebuilt at the Navotas Fishport complex yesterday.

Declared dead on arrival at the Tondo Medical Center were Edilberto Omega, 42; and Harold Decar, 35, both of Dagat-Dagatan, Navotas. The two who remained in critical condition were identified as Gregorio Flaviniano, 45; and Leonardo Bianes, 50.

Investigation revealed the victims were cleaning up the MV Alpine Rose, owned by the Frabelle Fishing Corp. and docked for repairs at the fishport pier at about 9:15 a.m. yesterday, when the incident happened.

According to the lone survivor, Rene Hernandez, 39, companion of the victims, they were cleaning up the waste depository at the lower decks when they smelled something nauseating. He said he quickly ran out on the first indication of toxic fumes. He told probers his companions fell unconscious one after the other.

Investigation further showed the ship was brought by the firm last May 14, 2002 from South Korea and was undergoing re-configuration as a fishing vessel.

The Navotas scene of the crime office (SOCO) is still investigating what kind of toxic fumes felled the victims.

Meanwhile, another inmate at the Manila City Jail has died, this time from alleged cardiac arrest.

Reports at the homicide section of the Western Police District identified the victim as Ricardo Lubat, 32, of 1281 Dos Castillas St., Sampaloc, Manila.

According to reports, Lubat was taken to the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center at about 6 p.m. last Tuesday after complaining of chest pains and after blood oozed from his nose. He was declared dead at about 6:35 a.m. yesterday.

Lubat who was arrested by the Sampaloc police for alleged rape last Dec. 7, was committed to the MCJ last Jan. 8. Lubat was the 11th inmate of the MCJ on record to have died from various illnesses since early last month.

The other inmates who died were also taken to the JRMMC after spending some time at the city jail infirmary following complaints of chest and stomach pains.

With a capacity of only 1,000 inmates, the MCJ now houses 3,709. Alarmed by the death toll, Manila Mayor Lito Atienza earlier urged the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, which has supervision over the MCJ to immediately decide on the transfer of the city jail on its new location at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig.

Atienza said the BJMP should not wait for more inmates to die before taking appropriate action. He pointed out that inhuman conditions, are clear violations of their rights under the Constitution. "Their living quarters are cramped, the heat is unbearable during summer and there is flooding during rainy season. This is why diseases spread quickly," Atienza said. – Jerry Botial and Mike Frialde