MANILA, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Two people were killed and seven others injured after a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tank exploded in a residential area in Dasmarinas City in Cavite province, south of Manila, on Thursday morning, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said.
The bureau said the explosion occurred shortly after 9 a.m. local time at a house being used as an LPG refilling station. The blast killed a 65-year-old male employee and a 20-year-old nephew of the business owner.
The powerful blast also triggered a fire and destroyed nearby homes and parked vehicles. Firefighters brought the blaze under control in less than 45 minutes.
Initial findings showed that the homeowner had been operating an LPG tank business and storing multiple tanks inside the residence, which may have contributed to the blast's intensity.
Several houses and cars in the vicinity were destroyed or heavily damaged. One resident whose home was destroyed said the ceiling and roof collapsed during the explosion, leaving the structure uninhabitable.
The BFP said an investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the explosion and to assess possible violations of fire safety regulations. ■