A father and his son sustained burns after a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tank exploded in their residence in Barangay Bangbang, Cordova town, Cebu.

Elizar Pogoy, the father, suffered from third-degree burns, while his son, Prince, suffered from second-degree burns. The incident happened on the night of May 13, 2024. 

The family bought a small LPG tank to finish frying fish and stir-frying "tangkong" (water spinach) after they ran out of butane gas. But his daughter, Allessa, heard a hiss coming from the LPG tank immediately after it was delivered.

As they were checking on the sound, the hissing became more audible. 

Allessa went out of the house to get the attention of the delivery driver, identified as Jefferson Piccio. Allessa would have wanted the tank replaced. 

Elizar followed Allessa out of the house to give the driver further instructions supposedly. However, they could not find Piccio outside. 

Elizar decided to get back in the house with his 21-year-old son, Prince. 

Once again he tried tinkering on the tank along with Prince. But the tank exploded tossing him and his son reportedly in the impact. 

FO1 Mcdowell Maglangit, investigator at Cordova Fire Station, reminded the public that when using liquefied petroleum gas, the tank should be placed in open space. 

He said that once one hears the hissing sound indicating a leak, and smells the distinct odor of gas, the tank should be taken immediately out of the house. 

The public is reminded to refrain from switching on the lights, opening the refrigerator, using cellular phones and even flashlights as switches or electrical devices may trigger a spark and ignite the leaking natural gas. 

Further, as natural gas is odorless and colorless, gas companies add methanethiol, also called mercaptan, that resembles the foul smell of rotten eggs. The public should be aware that this is a safety measure to detect leaks immediately.