Explosion in Philippines kills at least 10 and wounds dozens more

“They were soaked in blood”.

“There is nothing definite about it but it has resulted in the death of.at least 10 persons, and injury of about 60”, Abella said.

“There was an explosion but, as to what caused it, it is still under investigation”, dela Rey said. “We call on all the people to be vigilant at all times”.

“Ten people died on the spot, at least 30 injured”.

Maria Ressa, executive editor of Philippines news website Rappler, said the blast had occurred amid tensions surrounding Duterte’s war on drugs, as well as an ongoing peace process with Muslim militants in the southern Philippines.

President Barack Obama will have an opportunity to offer his personal condolences to Duterte when the two leaders plan to meet on the sidelines of a regional summit in Laos next week, Price said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

The incident took place at a street market outside the high-end Marco Polo hotel in Davao, in the southern Philippines, a military spokesman told reporters by phone.

Although it is considered a relatively safe city, Davao is located on the island of Mindanao, the heart of the separatist movement of the Moro people, who espouse Islam. The public was also asked to go home. However, the city itself has been largely peaceful in recent years.

President Dutarte had earlier in the day shrugged off rumours of a plot to assassinate him, saying such threats were to be expected. Ernesto Abella, spokesman for Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, announced the death toll.