Two killed, two hurt in explosion outside mall in Masbate City, Philippines

An explosion outside a shopping mall in Masbate City in the central Philippines at about 2:30 p.m. local time on Saturday (14 November) killed two people and injured two others. Police in the Bicol region said initial findings pointed to a pressurised biogas explosion, but stressed the cause had not been confirmed and an investigation was under way.

Police: early signs point to biogas; no explosives found

Bicol police spokesperson Lt. Col. Maria Luisa Calubaquib said the initial assessment by the Bureau of Fire Protection and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office pointed to a pressurised biogas explosion. An Explosive Ordnance Disposal team carried out an initial inspection and found no explosive components at the scene. The Police Forensic Unit is examining soil and swab samples collected from the site, while investigators are interviewing witnesses, reviewing CCTV footage from nearby establishments and examining physical evidence to determine what caused the blast.

Red Cross photos show debris and a wrecked motorcycle

Photos posted on social media by the Philippine Red Cross show debris scattered across the street outside the mall, a wrecked motorcycle, and emergency personnel and police working inside yellow tape, with a body covered by a white sheet being lifted onto a stretcher. The blast happened outside the LCC Market and Department Store on Tara Street in Barangay Pating. Bicol regional police director Brig. Gen. Randy Glenn Silvio said authorities were pursuing all leads to establish the circumstances, urged the public to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information, and asked anyone with relevant information or photos to report to the nearest police station.

(File photo: downtown Masbate City. Image: Wikimedia Commons.)