Filipino suffers severe burns in frat house explosion in US

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Filipino suffers severe burns in frat house explosion in US

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

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A Filipino law student based in Hong Kong sustained serious burns in an explosion at a fraternity house in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Yvette Digan, 22, had just arrived in Massachusetts to begin her exchange program at Boston University. 

She hoped that the experience would bring her closer to her dream of becoming a litigator in the United States.

On May 13, a bottle of alcohol caught fire at a social gathering in Worcester, which resulted in 30% burns on Digan’s body.

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“It was being poured near an open flame that may or may not have been visible and that the flame ignited the vapors, caused the ignition inside the bottle, explosive combustion which forced the liquid out,” said Adam Clermont, Digan’s lawyer.

After the explosion, Digan was admitted to the intensive care unit for three weeks. Digan said the experience felt even more frightening because she was alone in a country far from her family.

“I was scared, really scared because I was alone. My parents weren’t able to come as soon as possible because they needed a VISA… it’s scary, sending your daughter to see the world and getting a call a few days later finding out that she’s in the hospital,” Digan said.

She was discharged on June 10 after undergoing multiple skin graft procedures. Before the incident, Digan enjoyed crocheting and playing music. However, the injuries she sustained have limited her ability to return to the passions she once loved.

“I play the guitar and I play the piano. And as of right now, I still can’t play to the ability that I was able to before. And I just don’t have a lot of dexterity in my hand. I can’t move it a lot because it’s all new skin, it’s all fresh skin. Doing too much with it is quite dangerous,” Digan said.

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“To have the kind of disfigurement and scarring I have on my body at such a young age, it’s heartbreaking. As a young woman as well, it affects my self-esteem and how I look at myself,” she added.

Digan’s camp has since filed a lawsuit against the alcohol manufacturer, claiming that the company removed crucial fire hazard warnings from its label after its rebranding in 2018. 

According to Clermont, earlier versions of the product came with the warning: “CAUTION: DO NOT APPLY TO OPEN FLAME. KEEP AWAY FROM FIRE, HEAT AND OPEN FLAME – CONTENTS MAY IGNITE OR EXPLODE.”

“The other brands they marketed had very significant warnings on, because they know that it’s dangerous. What really bugged me is why would a company have three identical chemical substances selling in three different brands… remove the warnings from one brand? Especially, they’ve been on there for over two decades,” Clermont said.

The suit claims the company advertised the product for high-risk use cases like cooking and candle lighting, through its website and social media.

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Clermont alleges the same alcohol product caused an earlier explosion in Lakeville, Massachusetts, in November 2024, but no public safety notice was issued ahead of Digan’s accident.

Although Digan has resumed her studies at Boston University, she continues to undergo pain management and psychological therapy. Her family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover more than $600,000 in medical expenses.

Digan’s camp is pushing for reforms that would hold alcohol companies more accountable for how their products are labeled and marketed.

“It is God’s blessing that I am here… if I want anything to come out of this, is that one, I really hope justice is served. I really hope me and countless other people, they get to see a world where hopefully this doesn’t happen again,” Digan said.

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