Gas leak at RP refinery kills one

BALANGA CITY – An industrial engineer was pronounced dead on arrival while his companion, a chemical engineer was in critical condition in a privately-owned hospital here after they were found unconscious in the pavement of sour-water facilities at the Bataan Petron Refinery in the coastal village of Lamao, Limay town, this province early yesterday morning.

Senior Superintendent Manuel Baerlan, Bataan police director, identified the victim as Anthony Jed Reyes, 24, of Barangay Cataning, Balanga City, single, and a new graduate of Industrial Engineering at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila. He was rushed to St. Joseph Hospital here, about 20 kms. away from the Petron refinery, where attending physicians pronounced him dead on arrival.

His companion in the night shift, Nicolo Balonzo, 24, a chemical engineer of Magallanes town, Sorsogon province, was still in critical condition as of press time.

A roving plant technician discovered Reyes and Balonzo at about 4:30 a.m. yesterday, slumped on the cemented floor.

Reyes, who joined the company two years ago, was reportedly about to receive a plaque of recognition for his excellent performance when the accident occurred.

Fernando Enriquez, administrative manager of Bataan Petron Refinery, told The STAR that the cause of the accident were due to the toxic substance released by the facility.

Bataan Petron officials are still investigating the incident believed to be a leak in the atmospheric pipe steel number 2 in the processing area of the country’s oil refinery.