6 injured in Malabon ice plant blast

MANILA, Philippines - At least six workers were injured when an ice plant tank exploded in Malabon City early morning yesterday.

Four of the victims – Lolito Saycon, Mario Abay, Oscar Madel and Elmer Blancito – were brought to the Manila Central University (MCU) Hospital for treatment of burns and bruises while Rene Faminia, 22, and Daniel Onop, 39, were treated for head and body injuries at the President Diosdado Macapagal Memorial Medical Center.

Danilo Lagrimas, barangay watchman of Barangay Potrero in Malabon City, said the victims are workers at the Globe Paper Mill compound on Gov. Pascual Avenue in Barangay Potrero.

Lagrimas said a loud explosion occurred at a building in the GPM compound that houses a dry ice plant at around 3 a.m.

The blast destroyed the building and injured the workers, who were sleeping in their quarters near the plant.

An MCU staff said Saycon, Madel and Blancito were still confined in the hospital because of their injuries while Abay was released after treatment of superficial wounds caused by flying debris during the explosion. He said the three confined victims were already out of danger.

Lagrimas said the paper mill has not been fully operational since last year after it was badly damaged by tropical storm “Ondoy.”

He said the firm’s owner, James Yu, leased some of GPM’s warehouses and buildings to other traders.

The Malabon City police are still trying to find out what caused the explosion.