A gas explosion injured a 31-year-old woman in Barangay Tinampa-an, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, on December 31, just hours before 2025 kicked in.
Fire Officer 3 Rolly Quiatchon, an arson investigator of the Cadiz City Fire Station, said the explosion happened around 8 pm when the woman refilled a butane canister, triggering a fire.
The explosion burned both of the woman’s legs, and she received treatment at another hospital. The fire destroyed her house and caused an estimated P60,000 in damages.
Authorities extinguished the fire and declared it under control at 8:45 pm of that day.
In 2018, the Department of Energy (DOE) warned the public that illegally refilled butane canisters circulating in provincial markets could cause gas explosion.
Then-DOE Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said in a statement, “LPG-refilled butane canisters are extremely dangerous, especially since butane canisters should only be used once. Refilling these tin canisters with LPG can cause fire and greatly endanger the lives of our consumers.”
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, maintains a personal blog on Medium, and is the communications officer of Hope Builders Organization Negros Island.