The death toll from a suspected bomb explosion on a bus in the southern Philippines rose to at least 10 with another 34 people wounded, officials said on Wednesday.
The Rural Transit bus had picked up passengers, mostly students, and was passing near the main gate of Central Mindanao University in Maramag town in Bukidnon province on Tuesday night when the powerful blast sent shrapnel and debris flying through the vehicle, town safety officer Alejandro Navarro said.
The blast killed 10 passengers and wounded 34 others, many of them seriously, police said.
The suspected explosive, probably a mortar round concealed in a bag, went off in an overheard rack, and many passengers, who were standing in the overcrowded bus were wounded in the head, Mr. Navarro said.
Investigators were trying to determine the type of blast and were searching for other possible explosives at the site, police officer Rufina Bayarcal said.
