A blast occurred in the night market area in Roxas Street Davao City late Friday evening Sept. 2,2016, leaving at least 14 dead where police and emergency personnel rushed to respond.

Ten of them died on the spot, according to Chief Insp. Andrea dela Cerna, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office in Davao City. The four others died at nearby Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) and San Pedro Hospital.

At least 67 other individuals were injured, most of them obtained massive shrapnel wounds, SPMC Director Dr. Leopoldo Vega said.

He added 15 are still in critical condition as of Saturday morning, including a pregnant woman.

President Rodrigo Duterte declared a state of lawless violence in the entire country following the explosion, which he called an act of terrorism.

“It’s not martial law but I am inviting now the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the military and the police to run the country in accordance with my specifications,” the President said.

“There is a crisis in this country now involving drugs, extrajudicial killings as they say, killings and there seems to be the environment of lawlessness.”

Duterte will issue an official declaration to specify provisions, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre told CNN Philippines.

“The exact nature and coverage and wordings will be specified in the declaration soon to be issued by the President,” Aguirre said.

He added the existence of state of lawlessness has a factual basis because there is a breakdown of law and order and a clear and present danger to public safety.

The President also said his declaration will lead to setting up checkpoints across the country, and the people should also expect an increase in military presence on the streets.

He stressed there will be no curfew and no suspension of the writ of habeas corpus.

Davao Police spokeswoman, Sr. Insp. Catherine dela Rey, said that EOD (explosive and ordnance division) teams were already in the area looking for pieces of evidence.

The Davao City Police Office still has not given any statement or details on the reported explosion.

But witnesses said they heard one loud bang before 11 p.m. followed by smoke. They said the blast came from a massage area in the middle of the street. Many of the weekend shoppers were left bloodied and scurrying around — in shock over the blast.

Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte said initial reports coming to him said the blast was caused by an LPG tank, although he said this still needed to be confirmed.

Davao police called for calm after the market blast.

In an interview with CNN Philippines, PNP Region 11 Director Chief Supt. Michael Gaerlan called on the public to refrain from passing on misleading or unverified reports to avoid creating more confusion and panic.

The Roxas Avenue is a night market venue with ukay-ukay (thrift shop) and food vendors.

Source: CNN Philippines