At least 10 people died and dozens were injured when an explosion rocked Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s home city of Davao on Friday night, authorities said.
The explosion occurred just before 11:00 pm (1500 GMT) at a bustling market and close to one of Davao’s top hotels, city spokeswoman Catherine dela Rey told AFP.
“There was an explosion but, as to what caused it, it is still under investigation,” dela Rey said.
“Ten people died on the spot, at least 30 injured.”
Davao is the biggest city in the southern Philippines, with a population of about two million people. It is about 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) from the capital of Manila.
Duterte had been mayor of Davao for most of the past two decades, before winning national elections in a landslide this year and being sworn in as president on June 30.
Extremist militants and communist rebels have carried out deadly attacks in Davao, however authorities stressed it was too early to determine the cause of Friday’s blast.
“Right now, we cannot yet give definite answer to questions as to who is behind this as we are also trying to determine what really exploded,” the president’s son and Davao vice mayor, Paolo Duterte, said in a statement.
“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.”
The vice mayor confirmed there were “at least” 10 people who died.
He later told AFP that the president was in Davao on Friday night, but was safe.
“He is at the Davao police office with the presidential staff undergoing a briefing,” the vice mayor said.
The explosion killed people dining at the night market.
The bodies of at least two victims were lying amid broken plastic tables and chairs, according to an AFP photographer at the scene.
The site of the blast was about 100 meters (yards) from the city’s premier hotel, the Marco Polo, and one of Davao’s main universities.
The hotel, popular with tourists and business people, was not impacted.
Source: AFP
