TALISAY CITY, PHILIPPINES — At least 19 people, including a resort employee and guests, were hospitalized Tuesday evening after a chemical explosion at the Alcoseba Resort in Barangay Pooc. The incident was triggered by the accidental mixing of muriatic acid and chlorine in the resort's swimming pool.
According to reports, a maintenance worker was cleaning the pool area and, believing he was adding chlorine, poured a bucket of muriatic acid into the chlorinated water. The combination of the two chemicals produced a violent reaction, captured on the resort's CCTV cameras, which showed bursts erupting from the water's surface.
Immediately following the explosion, several individuals in the vicinity, including seven guests and four staff members, began to experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness, eye irritation, and difficulty breathing. The maintenance worker who poured the chemical sustained burns to his face and body. All affected individuals were promptly transported to the hospital for medical treatment.
The Talisay City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) responded to the scene and identified the event as a hazardous materials (hazmat) incident. Alvin Santillana, head of the Talisay CDRRMO, confirmed that the reaction seen on the CCTV footage was consistent with muriatic acid being mixed with chlorinated water.
The resort's management stated that this was the first time such an incident had occurred and that they typically add pool chemicals separately and follow specific procedures. They have pledged to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation.
Talisay City Mayor Gerald "Samsam" Gullas has ordered a thorough investigation into the incident and has issued a notice to the resort to halt its operations pending the outcome. The management of Alcoseba Resort has agreed to comply with the order.
