Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 3) – Four people were hurt on Thursday night following an explosion caused by an alleged gas leak in Makati City, according to local authorities.
All of them were brought to Makati Medical Center for treatment, police said.
The Makati police reported that the incident happened at the Judianchuanba restaurant in Yakal Street, Barangay San Antonio.
Photo shows debris of glass on the scene.
Investigators identified the victims, all with Chinese-sounding names, as kitchen helpers Cao Yue Qzang and Zhang Liang. Two other injured persons – Tang Ting and Yun Long Liun – were passersby. It’s unclear if the four victims are Chinese nationals.
They added that they are still determining the cause of the blast, which happened at around 8:45 p.m.
Makati Police chief PCol Rogelio Simon said the Chinese restaurant where the gas leak happened has no business permit and committed other violations, too.
The owners of the restaurant also failed to comply with certain requirements for a business to legally operate such as securing fire safety inspection reports for 2018 and 2019, Simon added.
The inspection should be done at least once a year, the official said.
They also saw violations in the building code, Simon said.
“Wala kaming nakitang sprinklers, fire extinguishers. Those are the initial violations na nakita namin.”
[Translation: We did not see sprinklers, fire extinguishers in the restaurant. Those are the initial violations we saw.]
CNN Philippines Correspondent Gerg Cahiles contributed to this report.
Meanwhile, the Makati City government issued a cease and desist order on the damaged Chinese restaurant for its “violation of existing city ordinances, laws and regulations.”
Makati Police chief PCol Rogelio Simon said the eatery has no business permit.
