2 kids dead, 1 hurt in explosion in Basilan

ISABELA CITY, Basilan Province - - Two minors were killed while another was hurt when an unexploded grenade launcher ordnance they were playing  with accidentally exploded in a village of Al-Barka town late Wednesday afternoon, according to the police here.

The police said the explosion occurred about 4 p.m Wednesday at sitio Pagtawanan, Barangay Magkawa killing a nine-year old and his  six-year old sister  while  their 14-year-old  uncle  was  wounded.

Basilan provincial police director Senior Superintendent Mario Dapillosa said investigation disclosed that the nine-year-old discovered the unexploded ordnance (UXO) of 400mm grenade launcher round at sitio Pagtawanan.

The victim reportedly brought the round of ordnance to their house and played with it together with his sister. However, minutes later the unexploded ordnance exploded killing the two victims and seriously wounded their uncle.

Police investigation further disclosed that the recovered unexploded ordnance could be part of the ammunition left by the Abu Sayyaf group at the height of the encounter against the government troops in the area last May 6 which left five soldiers, including an officer killed in the ambush.