A liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) explosion happened on Saturday morning, June 7, at a two-storey commercial building housing a Jollibee branch located at the corner of Valencia Street and Malvar Street in Barangay Manggahan, Puerto Princesa City.
Based on the initial progress report from the Bureau of Fire Protection-Puerto Princesa City Fire Station (BFP-PPCFS), the incident was reported at 6:40 a.m.
A rescue vehicle was dispatched at 6:41 a.m. and arrived on the scene at 6:46 a.m., five minutes after dispatch.
The structure involved, reportedly owned by Freemont Foods Corporation, a subsidiary of Jollibee Foods Corporation, had an affected area of 120 square meters, with no fire recorded.
Three individuals were reported injured in the explosion and all of them sustained first-degree burns.
Earlier, witnesses claimed that they saw injured employees of Jollibee who were rushed to the hospital.
“Narinig ko lang na maaga pa daw pagpasok nila, may amoy gas na daw sa loob,” a source interviewed by Palawan News said.
In a separate interview, a security guard stationed near the fast food chain also recounted seeing the restaurant crew in a state of panic, with one of them approaching to ask for help in calling an ambulance.
“May crew na humingi ng tulong. Kaagad naman silang naasikaso,” he said, refusing to be identified.
“Yung isa sa kanila nalapnos sa may babang bahagi ng katawan. Kahit nga po ‘yung uniform, sunog po e,” he added.
City Fire Marshal F/CInsp. Angel Lynn Salvador said their investigation is ongoing and that they cannot yet release complete information.
“So far, wala pa tayong mailalabas [na full details] dahil nag-iimbestiga pa tayo. Basta 6:40 a.m., natanggap namin ang tawag at pumunta agad tayo dito sa area,” Salvador said.
“Tatlo rin ang naibigay nila sa atin na nasugatan pero mga minor injury lang at dinala naman agad sa hospital. As for the cause, tapusin muna natin ang investigation,” she added.
As of now, the BFP-PPCFS continues to investigate the incident.
