Blast rocks Camp Karingal

The headquarters of the Central Police District (CPD) at Camp Karingal was rocked early yesterday by what was initially thought to be a grenade blast, but later turned out to be an exploding kerosene stove.

No one was hurt in the blast, but several structures and vehicles were damaged.

Construction workers from an adjacent medical and dental clinic that was being renovated owned up to the careless act.

CPD director Chief Superintendent Napoleon Castro said he was reading a book at around 3 a.m. when he heard a loud explosion beside his quarters inside the camp.

Castro and other police officers detailed at headquarters, went out to check the site of the blast and were surprised to find out that a kerosene stove had exploded, destroying the roof of a garage near Castro’s lodging and breaking the windshield of four parked cars.

The vehicles, Castro said, were all confiscated and were only being kept at the compound since the rightful owners have yet to retrieve them.

Police learned that the construction workers were cooking a meal using the kerosene stove, but left it unattended.

Castro said the kerosene stove may have overheated. He explained that the air and kerosene content of the tank were ingredients that could produce a bomb-like explosion.