This is a developing story.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 29) — At least 17 people were injured in an explosion at a restaurant in Xentro Mall in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro Thursday morning.
In a Facebook post, Mayor Malou Morillo said the victims included four restaurant employees and a delivery boy. The others were customers.
“Agad ding pinalikas ang iba pang mga taong nasa loob ng mall at sinarado ang kalsada, at kaagad din na pinapatay ang gas range at linya ng kuryente sa buong mall,” she added.
[Translation: People inside the mall were immediately evacuated. The road was closed. The gas range and the electricity line of the mall were also turned off.]
Mimaropa police chief PBGen Joel Doria said the incident happened at around 10:20 a.m.
Morillo announced on her Facebook page the explosion 20 minutes after it occurred.
Speaking to CNN Philippines’ Balitaan, Calapan City Administrator Raymund Ussam said they are monitoring the conditions of the injured who were sent to three different hospitals. No deaths have been reported.
Authorities are still investigating, but Ussam said initial findings point to a possible gas leak as the cause of the explosion.
“Ang initial findings ay an alleged gas leak sa may area no’ng Korean restaurant,” Ussam said. “‘Yong initial findings may parang LPG pipe doon sa ano (area), doon po ‘yong pinanggalingan.”
[Translation: Initial findings showed an alleged gas leak in the area of the Korean restaurant. An LPG pipe was seen in the area, it might be the cause.]
The explosion at the restaurant located on the first floor of the mall also damaged 12 vehicles, according to Doria.
“‘Yong ceiling niya po nag-collapse pero ‘yong structure naman mismo hindi naman talaga bumigay,” Ussam also said.
[Translation: The ceiling collapsed but the structure was not totally damaged.]
