MANILA, Philippines (5th UPDATE) – An explosion hit a passenger bus along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) in Makati City on Tuesday afternoon, leaving 2 persons dead and 16 others injured.
A radio dzMM report said the passenger bus -- a Newman Goldliner unit with plate number TXJ 710 -- was at the north-bound loading bay of EDSA corner Buendia when the explosion happened at around 2 p.m..
Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay Jr. said that according to policemen who gave him an initial briefing on the incident, there is a strong indication that the explosion was caused by a bomb.
Binay said that when he arrived at the scene, he saw blood and some body parts inside the bus. He said he also saw a severely injured man through the big hole created by the blast on the passenger bus.
The mayor said a man and a woman were killed by the blast. He said the victims were brought to Ospital ng Makati.
A radio dzMM report, meanwhile, said some of the victims were rushed to St. Luke's Medical Center at the Bonifacio Global City.
Binay said the city is now on high alert because of the explosion.
Director Nicanor Bartolome, National Capital Region Police Office chief, said the explosive device could have been planted under a seat located right in the middle of the bus
"Gitnang-gitna ito eh. Sa ilalim siya malamang inilagay," he said.
Footage taken by ABS-CBN News showed a huge hole created by the explosion on the right side of the bus. Windows on the left side of the bus and its windshield were also damaged.
Bartolome said post-blast investigators have yet to determine what type of explosive material was used.
He said police investigators are interviewing the surviving passengers, as well as the driver and conductor of the bus.
Police have closed the affected north-bound lane of EDSA-Buendia. The Ayala flyover going to Cubao area has also been closed. Other parts of EDSA remained open. -- Reports from Dexter Ganibe, radio dzMM and Jorge Cariño, ABS-CBN News
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