3 tankers burn at oil depot

MANILA, Philippines - Three oil tankers caught fire at an oil depot in Sta. Ana, Manila yesterday morning.

One of three tankers ready for deployment burst into flames at around 6:20 a.m., causing residents living in the vicinity of the oil depot compound to panic.

Manila fire marshal Superintendent Jaime Ramirez said gasoline was being transferred from one tanker to another when the driver of the second tanker suddenly started the engine, triggering the blaze, ABS-CBN reported.

The flames spread to a third tanker, which was 10 meters away from the other two.

The fire did not reach the nearby depot that houses the Petroleum Technology and Research Center.

Senior Fire Officer 1 Raul Angeles said the blaze was put out within an hour after it started. Arson investigators said the fire reached second alarm.