AFP_ENG_20030304.0250
NEWS STORY
20030304


Death toll in Philippine blast could hit 30: radio ATTENTION - ADDS
fears of toll rising ///


DAVAO, Philippines₆, March 4 (AFP₅)

At least 19 people₁₀ were killed and 114 people₁₀ were wounded in
Tuesday's southern Philippines₆ airport₁₂ blast₁₃, officials₁₄ said, but
reports said the death₁₆ toll₁₇ could climb to 30₁₈.

Radio station DXDC placed the death₁₆ toll₁₇ at 30₁₈, without giving a
source for the figure, which officials₁₄ could not immediately confirm.

The Davao Medical Center, a regional government hospital, recorded 19
deaths with 50 wounded. Medical evacuation workers however said the
injured list was around 114, spread out at various hospitals.

A powerful bomb tore through a waiting shed at the Davao City
international airport₁₂ at about 5.15 pm (0915 GMT) while another
explosion hit a bus terminal at the city. There were no reports of
injuries in the second blast₁₃.

"It₁₃'s a very powerful bomb₁₃. The waiting shed literally exploded,"
said Vice Mayor Luis Bongoyan, speaking to local radio station

Television footage showed medical teams₄₈ carting away dozens of
wounded victims₅₀ with fully armed troops on guard.

Many of the victims₅₀ were shown with hastily applied bandages, and
teams₄₈ of nurses and doctors were seen in packed emergency rooms
attending to the wounded.