DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 24 June) — A minor fire at a takoyaki stall in Roxas Night Market at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday evening injured five persons.
Initial investigation showed the fire started at the stall owned by Elizabeth A. Suazo after the hose of her LPG tank loosened and disconnected from the burner’s gas tap, leading to a combustion and causing panic among customers, Senior Inspector Maria Teresita Gaspan, spokesperson of the Davao city Police Office, said.
She said a worker from an adjacent stall, John Makaluwa, immediately rushed towards the LPG tank to switch it off and poured water over the hose to put out the fire.
The customers who suffered minor injuries were Briana Mae Saavedra, 25; Akira Alcanara, 17; Nikko Rola, 13; Jeamae Bernardo, 18; while Kecy Julia Alcantara, 17, was confined at the Southern Philippines Medical Center. Another victim Mary Jane L. Ang, 45, who has a history of hypertension, was also rushed to SPMC after she collapsed due to trauma.
On September 2, 2016, a blast ripped through the Roxas Night Market, leaving 15 persons dead and 69 others injured.
The bombing was reportedly perpetrated by members of the Islamic State-inspired Maute Group, the same group that attacked Marawi City on May 23, 2017 that prompted the President to place the whole island of Mindanao under Martial Law. He also suspended the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus.
The battle of Marawi ended five months later with Duterte declaring Marawi liberated from the influence of the terrorist group after the military killed Abu Sayyaf leader Isnilon Hapilon and Omar Maute. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)
