Ship Blast Injures Two

Two men were seriously injured following an explosion that resulted in a fire in an inter-island oil tanker off Barangay Lamao in the Philippines, the Manila Standard Today reported. The victims were welder Jimmy Rebosa, 43, of Zambales, and pipe fitter Pedrito Parayday, 46, of Navotas City, who both suffered third-degree burns and were confined at the Isaac and Catalina Medical Center in Balanga City. The incident happened around on May 11 at 8:05 a.m. while the two victims were conducting repairs on m/t Daniela Natividad when the explosion occurred that triggered the fire. The oil tanker, with gross tonnage of 2800.14 and 22 crewmembers, had just delivered diesel fuel from the Bataan refinery of Petron. The workers were about to weld the railings of the empty compartment near the ship engine when it expoloded. Initial findings showed that the concentration of fuel residues triggered the explosion when the worker ignited the welding rod. Coast Guard rescue team from Lamao Detachment immediately proceeded to the area after receiving information on the matter while crewmen of motor tugboats Capela and Balintawak helped the rescue team in putting out the fire. The rescue team put out the fire after three hours. The motor tanker suffered minimal damage and no other property in the area was destroyed. (Source: Manila Standard Today)