18 injured in gas explosion in Philippines

 

June 30

At least 18 people were injured in a gas explosion that ripped through a mall in the Philippines' Oriental Mindoro province on Thursday morning, authorities said.

Police said the blast, which occurred around 10:20 a.m. local time inside the shopping mall in Calapan City, also damaged at least 13 cars parked outside the mall.

Initial investigation showed that a gas leak inside a Korean restaurant triggered the explosion.

Calapan City Mayor Malou Morillo said the injured include four restaurant employees, a delivery boy, and customers.

Rey Daniel Acedillo of Calapan City legal office said the injured sustained third-degree burns.

"They were immediately taken to the hospital," Acedillo told a local TV, adding that two South Korean nationals eating at the restaurant were among the injured.

xinhua