2 men injured in ship blast

LIMAY, Bataan—Two persons were seriously injured following an explosion that resulted in a fire in an inter-island oil tanker off Barangay Lamao here yesterday morning, the Coast Guard reported.

Supt. Ernesto Flores, Limay town police chief, identified the victims as welder Jimmy Rebosa, 43, of Zambales, and pipe fitter Pedrito Parayday, 46, of Navotas City, who both suffered third-degree burns and were confined at the Isaac and Catalina Medical Center in Balanga City.

Lt. Cmdr. Joseph Coyme, Coast Guard spokesperson, said the incident happened around 8:05 a.m. while the two victims were conducting repairs on m/t Daniela Natividad when the explosion occured that triggered the fire.

“Initial findings showed that the explosion started from the empty tank no. 5 of the said tanker. The victims are both welders,” Coyme said, adding that the ship was owned by Shogun Shipping Inc. and had just arrived from Dapitan City.

The oil tanker, with gross tonnage of 2800.14 and 22 crewmembers, had just delivered diesel fuel from the Bataan refinery of Petron. The workers were about to weld the railings of the empty compartment near the ship engine when it expoloded.

Initial findings showed that the concentration of fuel residues triggered the explosion when the worker ignited the welding rod.

Coast Guard rescue team from Lamao Detachment immediately proceeded to the area after receiving information on the matter while crewmen of motor tugboats “Capela” and “Balintawak” helped the rescue team in putting out the fire.

Coyme said the rescue team put out the fire after three hours. He added the motor tanker suffered minimal damage and no other property in the area was destroyed.

By Butch Gunio and Joel E. Zurbano