DAVAO CITY – At least 10 people were killed and about 2 dozen more wounded in an explosion late Friday at a night market in President Rodrigo Duterte’s hometown in Davao City in southern Philippines, reports said.
Police were investigating the blast that occurred along Roxas Avenue and there were conflicting reports on the number of casualties, but at least 24 people had been injured in the powerful explosion. Other reports said as many as 60 people were injured in the blast.
Those injured in the blast were rushed to the Southern Philippines Medical Center.
Members of the military and police bomb squads were sent to the area and security forces cordoned off the stretch of the road while experts search for debris or clues which could help them in the investigations.
Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, one of the President’s sons, said authorities are on top of the situation. “Rest assured the authorities are on top of this incident.Right now, we cannot yet give definite answer to as to who is behind this as we are also trying to determine what really exploded,” he said.
“Let us pray for the victims of this unfortunate incident, especially for those who died. Let us pray for those who are being treated in different hospitals and pray for their quick recovery. There are at least 10 people who perished because of the incident and a number were reported wounded,” he added.
He said five women and 5 men were killed in the blast. Duterte also bared that he received information that Davao and General Santos cities were target of terrorists.
The blast – suspected to have come from a concealed bomb – coincided with ongoing military offensives against the ISIS-linked Abu Sayyaf group in Sulu province. Jihadists have earlier threatened to retaliate against military and civilian targets and said they would bring the war on Duterte’s soldiers. (With a report from Malou Cablinda.)
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