PHILIPPINES - LPG tanker blast toll rises to 50

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LPG tanker blast toll rises to 50

POSTED: 2:11 a.m. EST, February 3, 2007

 

MANILA, Philippines (AP) -- The death toll from a tanker explosion in the southern Philippines has risen from 27 to 50 after authorities accounted for the remains of more victims, officials said Saturday.

The tanker truck was negotiating a downhill stretch of the highway in Tigbao town in Zamboanga del Sur province Friday when its brakes failed, causing it to slam into the side of the mountain before overturning and killing its driver, police said.

 

Minutes later, the tanker was demolished by a powerful explosion that ripped off the roof of a nearby passenger minibus.

Fifty people were killed and at least 65 others were hospitalized, said provincial social welfare officer Conchita San Diego.

The truck owner told police the tanker contained liquefied carbon dioxide that was to be delivered to a Coca-Cola plant in Zamboanga city, said provincial police chief Senior Superintendent Ramon Ochotorena.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/02/03/philippines.truck.ap/index.html

Dear List Members,

Dasha: SA/SA/VE/MO/MO

Best wishes,

Jorge