Deadly blast strikes market in Philippines' Davao city

At least 10 dead and scores wounded after bomb rips through busy market in home city of Philippine president.

An eyewitness told news that the rescuers had to use improvised bandages on the victims [EPA/Cerilo Ebrano]

A blast has ripped through a night market packed with customers in President Rodrigo Duterte's home city of Davao in southern Philippines, killing at least 10 people and wounding 60 others.
A presidential spokesman said on Friday that the blast took place at the open-air market in Davao City, 960km south of the capital, Manila.

The explosion occurred close to one of Davao's top hotels that is popular with tourists and business people, city spokeswoman Catherine de la Rey told AFP news agency.
"There was an explosion but as to what caused it, it is still under investigation," de la Rey said. "Ten people died on the spot ..."

Student John Rhyl L Sialmo told news that the explosion happened around 10:30pm local time (3:30GMT).
"We were inside one of the university buildings when we heard the loud explosion," Sialmo, a student at Ateneo de Davao University, said.
"There were so many people, because it was a night market and also because it's a Friday," Sialmo said, adding that "the rescuers had to use improvised bandages on the victims".

"One woman rushed to the university to ask for help and she said she saw bodies and body parts laying around," he said. "She looked very traumatised."

The Philippine president was in Davao, but was safe and at a police station after the explosion, his son Paolo Duterte, who is vice mayor of the city, told Reuters news agency.