Plywood factory in Davao City exploded leaving one dead

Miami
April 23, 2008
Story: Plywood factory in Davao City exploded leaving one dead

A man had died after the steam boiler that he was protecting exploded right in front of him in a plywood factory in the town of Bunawan in Davao City.

Chief Investigator SPO4 Jessie Banzuela, of Bunawan Police Station said due to the strong impact of the explosion, the victim died on the spot and was thrown out of the building. The victim was identified as Austio Albelda, 51.

The incident occurred at around 2:45 pm of April 21.

According to their investigation, Albelda who was assigned in the production of the plywood is about to heat the steam boiler by putting woods on the said boiler when it exploded. “His name at the group was ‘fireman’ because he is in-charge of making the boiler heat.”

Banzuela added that the cause was allegedly due to high pressure which accumulated inside steam boiler and alleged malfunction of safety valve.

The company was Chaverson Wood Industrial Corporation is located at Sitio Maparlo, Barangay Manghayan, Bunawan, Davao City. The ground floor of the production building was damage, but other buildings attached to it were not affected according to Banzuela.

11 others were reported injured sustaining minor injuries and minor burns. They were brought to Rivera Hospital of Panobo City, Davao Oriental.

They were identified as Guillen Jaca-ac, Echon Entino, Reil Cagaan, Gabriel Serrano, Amelia Ocaba, Elena Gregori, Rene dela Torre, Felipe Alonzo, Elizer Restauro, Jomel Pagalan and Sofronio Niño. All are workers of the said factory. They are now in stable condition.