1 killed, 1 hurt in gas tanker explosion

A businessman driving his car beside a gasoline tanker was burned beyond recognition while his wife suffered second-degree burns when the tanker exploded and a fireball engulfed their vehicle and 12 other cars in Sampaloc, Manila Wednesday night.

Police said Melencio Aquino, of La Loma, Quezon City, was trapped inside his burning Toyota Altis (XKS-309) but his wife, Jemma, managed to get out of the vehicle. She is now under observation at the UST Hospital.

Investigators said the gasoline tanker (PXT-482) was descending the Nagtahan flyover at the corner of A.H. Lacson and Tuazon streets in Sampaloc when it suddenly exploded.

The vehicles that suffered fire damage were a Honda Hatchback (UGH-252), a Mitsubishi Lancer (UBB-491), a Nissan Sentra (TBR-587), an AUV (UHW-559), a Tamaraw pick-up (DGZ-486), a Mitsubishi box-type (PKX-356), a forwarder truck (CTW-582), a Toyota Corolla taxicab (TWL-636), two owner-type jeepneys (UGH-252 and 361) and a scooter (ZL-9530).

Police Officer 2 Rommel del Rosario said the tanker, carrying 14,000 liters of diesel and 2,000 liters of gasoline, had just come from the Shell depot in Pandacan, Manila.

As the tanker was descending the Nagtahan flyover, a steel pipe valve at the lower right portion loosened and caused the gasoline to leak, according to Del Rosario.

There were reports that the tanker sideswiped a passing taxicab and the friction caused the spark that ignited the gasoline.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), however, said a broken propeller shaft hit a drainpipe connected to a compartment that contained the gasoline. This reportedly caused the drainpipe to leak gasoline, while the shaft trailed on the pavement and caused the spark.

According to the NBI, witnesses said they heard four explosions and saw a trail of fire about 200 meters long that start from the back of the tanker.

It took firefighters about 20 minutes to put out the fire from the burning tanker and other vehicles. Shell representatives also drained the remaining diesel and gasoline from the damaged tanker. 

The tanker’s driver, Leonardo Benamir, escaped after the incident. However, its owner, Teodorico Baldonado, went to the police yesterday and signified his intention to financially assist the injured, as well as pay for the damages.

Manila Police District (MPD) director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales said the incident was accidental and ruled out terrorism as the cause of the explosion.

Police filed charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, serious physical injury and damage to property against the driver.

The NBI will investigate whether the tanker was properly inspected prior to the accident and may file charges against the mechanic or company responsible for maintaining the tanker.

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, in a statement, said they will look into the possibility of conducting mandatory inspection of oil tankers.

“This is a disaster that we do not want to happen again,” he said, and ordered that all tankers coming from the Pandacan oil depot be inspected for leaks. – With Evelyn Macairan