2 balloon makers killed in explosion

COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Two workers of a store selling balloons were killed when a steel cylinder full of helium gas exploded in their workshop here on Wednesday. So powerful was the blast that it felled a coconut tree and damaged a nearby house.

The fatalities, Jay Tribunalo, 27, and Dodong Jimlan, 14, died while being treated of their injuries in a local hospital. They worked for balloon supplier Georma Salihul.

The explosion took place not far from Bahay Maria, a nursing home for the elderly run by the local Catholic community.