CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro: An explosion rocked a branch of a popular Korean restaurant here, injuring at least 15 persons and damaging two adjacent establishments and several vehicles parked nearby.

An initial police report said 15 persons were injured, two of whom are in critical condition.

They were brought to the Oriental Mindoro Provincial Hospital and Ma. Estrella General Hospital.

The incident happened at Mr. Won’s Samgyeopsal Korean Restaurant at Xentro Mall in Barangay Lumangbayan around 10:20 a.m., Thursday, June 29, 2023.

An initial investigation points at a gas leak as the cause of the blast.

After the explosion, witnesses said they saw the staff of Mr. Won’s Samgyupsal running outside the restaurant with burns on different parts of their bodies.

A Red Ribbon branch on the right side of the restaurant and a Dunkin Donut branch, which is scheduled to open on Friday, were also heavily damaged.

Vehicles parked in front of the establishments were damaged, too.

The blast shattered glasses that landed some 75 meters on the other side of Roxas Drive.

The city government is still assessing the situation and has sent a team from the public safety department in the area led by City Administrator lawyer Reymund Al-Ussam.