A powerful bomb apparently rigged to a vehicle has exploded on a busy main road in a volatile southern Philippine city, killing at least eight people and wounding more than 30 others.
Troops and police closed off the area along Sinsuat Avenue in Cotabato city as firefighters and ambulances arrived at the chaotic scene during the Monday afternoon rush. Witnesses saw at least four people bloodied on the pavement as cars and buildings burned after the explosion.
The fire damaged power and telephone cables, causing power outages nearby, police said.
City police chief Senior Superintendent Rolen Balquin, said on Tuesday that two victims had died overnight in the hospital, raising the death toll to eight. He said the dead included a police officer.
At least 33 people were wounded by bomb shrapnel and flying debris from cars and motorcycles damaged by the explosion, he said. Several were in serious condition among 13 who remained in the hospital on Tuesday, he said.
Cotabato, a bustling trading hub 880km south of Manila, has been hit previously by bombings blamed on Muslim rebels and extortion gangs.
The bomb exploded on Monday afternoon as a bulletproof SUV carrying city administrator Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi was passing by. She was not hurt but one of her police bodyguards in a security van was killed, officials said.
Balquin said they were looking at the possibility the attack could have targeted Guiani-Sayadi, a younger sister of Mayor Japal Guiani. He said the city administrator "had been receiving threats for the past few days".
