Safety officer hurt in BGC gas fire

MANILA, Philippines (Updated August 16) — A safety officer suffered third-degree burns when a fire, reportedly caused by a busted gas pipe, broke out at a construction site in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig on Wednesday night.

Melchor dela Cruz, 35, was brought to St. Luke’s Medical Center-BGC for treatment of burns he sustained on his face and limbs.

The city government said that according to initial reports, “a construction worker accidentally struck a gas pipe, resulting in a blast that caused the fire” at the MJ Fort Construction site at the corner of 20th and 21st Drive at past 7:30 p.m.

Residents of nearby condominium buildings recalled hearing an explosion before seeing the fire, which reached first alarm at around 7:40 p.m. and was put out at approximately 9:35 p.m., according to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) National Capital Region office.

Crews from 72 firetrucks – 16 from the BFP and 56 from the Taguig City government and volunteer firefighting groups – and seven ambulances rushed to the fire site.

The city government has suspended construction activities at the site and ordered an investigation into the fire and a safety assessment of the site.