Soldiers and policemen sift through debris following a bomb attack on a provincial bus on Thursday, August 16, 2012, in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines. At least 5 people are wounded in the bombing, officials say. (Mindanao Examiner Photo)
Officials said the powerful blast tore open the rear and the left side of the bus, owned by Rural Transit of Mindanao.
The bus, which came from Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur province, was about 100 meters from the terminal when the explosion occurred. It was not immediately known how many passengers were in the bus when the bomb exploded.
“It was powerful and you can see the damage to the bus. Five passengers were rushed to hospitals and they are all wounded,” one army soldier, who was guarding the site, told the Mindanao Examiner.
He said the bomb was probably planted on the baggage compartment of the bus. “The bomb was probably among the baggage. We don’t know what type of explosive was used in the attack. Police and military are investigating this incident,” he said.
One police investigator said he recovered iron nails, believed to be from the improvised bomb used in the attack.
No individual or group claimed responsibility for the bombing, but security forces are battling Muslim rebels in Mindanao since last week following a series of attacks by the group called Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement.
The rebels said the attacks were in retaliation to continued military offensive in nearby Basilan province. (Mindanao Examiner. With a report from Ely Dumaboc)
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