LPG explosion victim now stable

CEBU, Philippines - The man who was severely injured in last Thursday’s LPG tank explosion is now stable, according to Dr. Gloria Duterte, officer-in-charge of the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC).

Clarito Tampon was rushed to CCMC after suffering from major burns in his face and body, but his condition is now improving with the treatment applied by the hospital doctors, Duterte said.

In an interview over GMA Balitang Bisdak, Duterte said they applied the burns with cream and they gave Tampon antibiotics and pain reliever.

Duterte said they will also inject Tampon with anti-tetanus.

The hospital chief said that the victim, who was almost unconscious when rushed to the hospital, can now respond by moving his head.

Tampon was the one badly injured when a tank used to store liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for motor vehicles exploded in sitio Paglaum, Barangay Calamba at 3 pm last Thursday.

Tampon, who works as a canvasser of a junkshop, was removing the regulator of the tank which he wanted to sell to the shop when it suddenly exploded.

Nine other people, including four children, sustained minor burns. They were taken to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, the nearest hospital to the area, and some of them were later released after getting treatment.

Mayor Michael Rama directed the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) to evaluate the patients’ condition to determine the assistance that the City Government can give.

Rama said if the junkshop is proven at fault, its business permit might be affected.

Right now, FO3 Emiliano Daño, one of the fire investigators, said they are still investigating who will be held liable for the explosion.

Neighbors said that Tampon was detaching the tank’s regulator to sell it to the junkshop.

Joel Ramos, the junk shop owner, said that he warned his workers not to accept LPG tanks unless these are already cut into pieces.

Some of the victims were sitting beside the road near Tampon, while the others were attending at a nearby barbeque stand when the explosion happened.     - THE FREEMAN