Gas leak sparks fire, destroys canteen of Cebu Technological University
LPG BLAST: 14 HURT
At least 14 people, including seven students, were injured in a fire that followed an explosion at a canteen of the Cebu Technological University (CTU) yesterday morning in barangay San Roque, Cebu City.
Traffic flow along M.J. Cuenco Ave. was disrupted after hundreds of students, faculty and non-teaching personnel of CTU rushed out of the campus.
A loud explosion was heard near the university’s canteen located at the back of the education building. Fire was then seen in the area occupied by canteen concessionaires, said Greg Gamboa, the University Extension Services Head.
Fire trucks from the city fire department and volunteer fire brigades responded to the fire alarm.
Gamboa initially said no one was hurt during the fire, which was contained in about 12 minutes, but his statement proved otherwise as the paramedics rushed the injured to hospitals in the city. Those who sustained minor injuries were treated in the school clinic.
Arson investigators said fire broke out after a liquefied petroleum gas tank in the kitchen of one of the university canteen’s concessionaires exploded.
“Kalit ra man mi nakabati og buto, dayon nanyagit ang mga tawo (We heard an explosion followed by the sound of people shouting),” a female student said.
A certain Johnny, owner of the food stall where the fire started, and his wife were among those rushed to the hospital. Also rushed to the hospital were Arenato Catarungan, 41 and Charice Borinaga, 17 who suffered burns.
Dr. Segundino Cuadra, acting campus director of CTU, said they used to prohibit food vendors from cooking inside the school premises. However, the vendors appealed for reconsideration prompting the school administration to allow them to cook from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m., noon to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
However, some vendors violated the agreement.
Dr. Victor Villaganas, vice president for academics of CTU, said the administration will help defray the medical expenses of their injured students.
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