Explosion kills 2 children, injures another

ZAMBOANGA CITY - Two children were killed while another was wounded in an explosion in a remote village in Basilan province, a top military official said Thursday.

Army’s 104th Infantry Brigade commander Colonel Carlito Galvez said the incident took place around 4 p.m. Wednesday in Sitio Pagtawanan, Magcawa village, Al-Barka town.

Galvez identified the fatalities as Saidi Samir, nine years old, and his younger sister, Sarhana, six years old, who died on the spot.

Wounded was Nasri Baddiri, 14, the uncle of the two children, Galvez said.

He said that prior to the incident, Saidi found a 40-millimeter (mm) grenade launcher in their community and brought it home.

The grenade launcher exploded minutes later, killing instantly Saidi and Sarhana after they tinkered with the ammunition.

Baddiri was admitted for treatment at the Basilan Community Hospital (Bascom) in Zamboanga City, said Galvez.

The 40-mm grenade launcher was believed to have been abandoned by the Abu Sayyaf bandits during a clash with government forces in Sitio Pagtawanan, Magcawa village last May 6.

The clash ensued after the Abu Sayyaf bandits staged an ambush that resulted in the death of two soldiers, including an officer. Bong Garcia