Five dead in RP shipyard blast

Five dead in RP shipyard blast

SUBIC, Philippines (AFP): An explosion ripped through a shipyard here on Monday, killing five Filipino workers and causing extensive damage to a drydocked tanker, police said.

The mid-morning blast occurred at a lower deck below the engine room of the Mondogas Europe, superintendent Enrique Romero told reporters.

Five shipyard workers were killed and seven others were seriously injured in the explosion, which occurred at the premises of the Philippine Shipyard and Engineering Co. near the town of Subic, northwest of Manila, Romero, the Subic police chief added.

The police official said the tanker's engine was heavily damaged by the explosion. Repair work began on the ship on Sept. 26 which was due to leave on Monday when the blast occurred, he added.