20160221 Philippines Batangas gas facility fire under control, may be out in 2 days —company official
Philippines Feb 21 2016 “Factories”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : 0 or unknown Injured : injured 0 or unknown
Batangas gas facility fire under control, may be out in 2 days —company official
Updated: 2016-02-21-15:51
The fire that struck the Phoenix Petroterminals and Industrial Park late Saturday afternoon in the municipality of Calaca in Batangas is under control and may be out in two days, a company official told Balitanghali on Sunday.
“’Yung laki ng apoy at usok, sa ngayon ay panaka-naka na lang. Tingin ko ay hindi na aabutin ng dalawang araw pa,” Engr. Ronnie Badidles, business development head of South Pacific, Inc. said.
Senior Superintendent Sergio Soriano Jr., Bureau of Fire Protection’s regional director in Calabarzon, said Saturday that the fire may last two or three more days because the facility’s four capsule tanks contain 7,000 metric tons of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
The fire has been raging for about 20 hours as of posting time.
A total of 115 families living near the facility have been evacuated to four schools far from the facility, in compliance with the order from the BFP, which already raised the general alarm.
Badidles however said that the smell from the leak in the pressure valve, which presumably caused the raging fire as per initial investigation, is unsettling for the residents, but it will be not be a source of any environmental and health hazard.
The company has been coordinating with the local government in Calaca, Batangas to address the immediate needs of affected residents.
“Nakikipag-ugnayan kami kay Mayor at sa local government para ‘yung mga agarang pangangailangan nila ay ma-address natin,” Badidles said.
“Sa environmental at health hazard, ang produkto nating liquified petroleum gas ay hindi makakasira sa environment kahit masunog. ‘Yung amoy, hindi maiiwasan ‘yan dahil universal standard ‘yan para malaman kung may leak ang LPG,” he added.
South Pacific, Inc. has secured the necessary permits for the operation of the Phoenix Petroterminals and Industrial Park and has complied with the requirements prior to operation. The gas facility was in the midst of a dry run when the fire broke.
Badidles assured the public that despite the incident, the company is prepared with the necessary safety and response plan, which was executed on Saturday.
“If you’re commissioning, basically, kasama na diyan ang dry run mo. There are products already inside the storage at tayo ay naghahanda na para sa operation. Dapat walang leak, kaya lang hindi natin ma-determine sa ngayon kung anong pinagmulan,” Badidles said.
“We have prepared prior to construction, during mobilization, during construction. Mayroon na kaming safety and response plan para diyan. Nangyari ito kahapon, na-execute naman ng first responders. I’m happy to confirm na, ayon sa aming talaan, ‘yung dalawang first responders lang namin ang naapektuhan ng sunog na ito. So far, zero casualty tayo,” Badidles added.
Two employees at the industrial park were rushed to two separate hospitals due to suffocation and chemical inhalation.
Web Source: GMA NEWS ONLINE
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/556014/news/regions/grass-fire-affects-gensan-airport-operation