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Saturday, January 19, 2008
2 dead, 3 hurt in Subic blast
MANILA -- A fire broke out on a ship being built by a South Korean company in a northern Philippine shipyard Friday, killing two and injuring three workers, officials said.
Sparks from a welding machine fell into the engine shaft of the vessel in Subic Bay Freeport, igniting materials inside, said the freeport's deputy administrator, Neth Fernando.
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She said all the victims were Filipino workers from Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Co., one of the investors at the former US naval base 80 kilometers (50 miles) northwest of Manila.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Friday ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) to submit a complete report regarding the blast at the Hanjin shipyard in Subic.
Deputy presidential spokesman Anthony Golez said the President also ordered the PNP and the SBMA to "ensure that a similar incident will not happen again."
Golez said Malacañang is expecting the report "soon" but he already dubbed the incident as an "occupational accident."
"The President wishes to extend her condolences to the families of the two Filipino workers in Hanjin Industries in Subic Bay who died due to an occupational accident that happened at 11 a.m.," he said.
He said Arroyo ordered the SBMA, Office of Civil Defense, and the health and social welfare departments to assess the incident and extend assistance to those who were injured and the families of those who were killed.
Reports quoted Subic Police Chief Cesar Jacob identifying the fatalities as Hermias Adamos, 30; and Mario Laxamana, 32. He said the injured -- Jonathan Martinez, Gilbert Suba, and certain Donald -- were taken to the James. L. Gordon Hospital in Olongapo City for second degree burns.
Jacob was quoted as saying that the explosion was caused by an oily portion of the ship being built that exploded when it came in contact with flaming or hot welding rod that accidentally dropped from one of the workers. Earlier reports said it was an acetylene tank explosion.
He also said the explosion happened inside one of the ships being completed at Assembly shop dry dock number 5 at 11:40 a.m. He said the ship that was being built was around 60 percent complete.
Hanjin is considered as one of the biggest foreign investments under the Arroyo administration. The President herself attended the groundbreaking of the US$2-million Hanjin shipyard in Misamis Oriental last week.
The President has also been advocating the training of more Filipino welders for employment in the Korean shipbuilding company. (JMR/Sunnex/With AP)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro. (January 19, 2008 issue)
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