Gas explosion hits restaurant in San Juan; 7 hurt

MANILA, Philippines - Seven people were hurt in a gas explosion at a seafood restaurant in San Juan City, before dawn Saturday.

Police said that the injured victims include Allan Cabana Muriel and Julius Ras, workers at a laundry shop beside the restaurant; a certain Jaime Arvin Tacdoro, Marlo Urdas, Reynaldo Namura, taxi driver Gabriel Padilla and Benito Tino Jr., security guard at a nearby drug store.

Police said the explosion took place at around 1 a.m. inside the seafood restaurant, located along Wilson Street.

Reports said that the explosion was so powerful that it damaged the laundry shop, the drug store and a Pizza Hut store.

At least eight cars and several motorcycles were also damaged.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas said the Explosive and Ordnance Team members of the Philippine National Police were processing the blast site. He said that initial results showed that the explosion was caused by a liquefied petroleum gas.