1 dead, 3 others hurt in tire factory explosion

MANILA, Philippines - A mechanic died while 3 others were injured when an improperly sealed tire autoclave exploded in a factory in Valenzuela City yesterday morning.

The explosion in the Philippine Kai Rubber Corp. factory in Barangay Ugong mangled the body of Bongbong Dandin, 36.

City fire marshal Superintendent Mel Lagas said the lid of autoclave detached from the machine and pinned Dandin against a wall 12 meters away, severing his right leg.

The weight of the tires and other materials falling on Dandin drove his head into his torso, Lagas added.

Dandin died on the spot, while shaft men Enriquito Segundo, Neddie Espenueva, and Reynaldo Espinosa sustained minor injuries and were taken to the Valenzuela General Hospital for treatment.

City police chief Senior Superintendent Rhoderick Armamento said the explosion took place about 8 a.m. Dandin was about six meters away from the machine when it exploded.

Armamento added that Dandin was substituting for shaftman Manuel Commandante, who was on leave.

No safety officer

Eugenio Yu, company president, said “metal fatigue” could be the cause of the accident. He told authorities that their machines are inspected weekly.

In his letter of explanation to the police, Yu said that based on the initial findings, “the lock closing the (tire chamber) door was not properly secured, which gave way after the air pressure reached its maximum (heat).”

“There is also the possibility of a metal fatigue as evidence by our examination on the wreckage of some parts of th chamber,” Yu added.

The company, which salvages old tires, has been operating in their one-story building for 20 years. The machine, which broke down yesterday, meanwhile, had been in use for eight years.

Armamento said the company “does not have any safety officer. And the inspections are done among themselves.”

Factory officials could face reckless imprudence resulting in homicide and multiple physical injuries should the victims press charges.