Gas Leak Causes Explosion, Rocks Jollibee Store

by Boy Ryan Zabal

Jollibee Store located in the front, ground floor

of Gaisano City, Kalibo.

A gas explosion rocked the Jollibee Gaisano City Kalibo store which injured three kitchen crew last Friday morning.
Those injured and brought to Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital (DRSTMH) for treatment were Joseph Recudo, 19, of Brgy. Bulabod, Malinao, Aklan; Cristine Beltran, 21, of Brgy. Kabayugan, Malinao, Aklan and Eril Tuma-ob, 19, of Brgy. Taba-ao, Banga, Aklan.
"The explosion was an isolated case and accidental," said SFO4 Darius Melgarejo of Kalibo Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in the aftermath of the explosion that shook the Gaisano City, Kalibo.
"The BFP was on heightened alert from January 19 to 22 while the town of Kalibo was celebrating the 795th Ati-Atihan festival," he added.
Based on Kalibo Philippine National Police (PNP) report, the explosion started at the kitchen area while the employees were preparing for their daily routine at around 7:35 a.m.
The explosion triggered by a gas leak of the burner, razed an undetermined worth of property. The fire partially damaged the ceiling of the fast food restaurant.
The arrival of the Kalibo fire trucks, however, prevented the blaze from spreading inside the three-storey building, just across the Kalibo Public Market in Brgy. Andagao, Kalibo.
The explosion sounded as something like a sonic boom forcing the evacuation of Jollibee store crew. Thirty minutes later, Gaisano City building maintenance personnel and fire investigators went in to trace the leak.
Two Jollibee crews identified as Juliene Dalida of Brgy. Poblacion, Altavas, Aklan and Jean Libantino, 18, of Brgy. Kinalangay Viejo, Malinao, Aklan were suffocated due to smoke inhalation.Those taken to the hospital suffered burns in their face, body and hands. They were released the next day after confinement at the DRSTMH. /MP mailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com