7 hurt in San Juan blast

MANILA, Philippines -At least seven people were injured in an explosion in a restaurant in San Juan City early yesterday.

Eastern Police District director Chief Superintendent Miguel Laurel said the explosion hit the Mañosa Noodles, Seafoods and Chops restaurant along Wilson street at about 1:10 a.m.

Laurel identified the injured as Allan Cabana, Julius Raz, Jaime Arvin Tacdoro, Marlon Urdas, Reynaldo Namura, taxi driver Gabriel Padilla, and security guard Benito Tinio.

Laurel said those injured included three workers doing repairs inside the restaurant, a passing taxi driver, a security guard, and two crewmembers of a pizza parlor across the street.

The seven were hit by flying glass debris from the restaurant during the explosion, police said. The victims were brought to Cardinal Santos Medical Center for treatment.

At least 10 vehicles in the area were also damaged by debris from the blast.

Initial police investigation showed Cabana and Raz were repairing a pipe in a sink at the restaurant, owned by Charlyn Tan. The two said they were working on the pipe when the explosion occurred inside the restaurant.

The blast also injured Tacdoro, who was sleeping in the Papalaba Laundry Shop beside the eatery.

The explosion shattered the glass windows of nearby establishments, injuring Tinio, Urdas and Namura, who just passing in front of the restaurant.

The explosion also injured Padilla, who was driving his taxi past the restaurant.

Investigators are not discounting the possibility the blast was caused by a leaking liquefied petroleum gas tank.  Laurel said personnel from the police explosives and ordnance division detected the strong smell of LPG in the restaurant.

Laurel said investigators found no traces of explosives that would indicate a bomb had been exploded.

He said the investigation has yet to determine if there are other causes of the explosion.

The police had temporarily closed off Wilson street to traffic as the investigation into the explosion continues.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II rushed to the scene and agreed with the initial report of the police that the explosion could have been caused by a gas leak.

“Initial indicators from (what the police said), it was not a bomb,” Roxas said.

“Based on the initial findings…there were no secondary devices found or a crater that would indicate an explosive device was detonated,” he said.

Roxas, however, stressed the findings are not conclusive as the police investigators have yet to finish the probe.

–  With Jose Rodel Clapano