2 dead, 2 injured in Masbate explosion

Two people were killed while two others were injured in an explosion that occurred Saturday afternoon along Tara Street in Barangay Pating, Masbate City, police said. 

The blast happened at around 2:35 p.m. in front of a mall, according to the Police Regional Office 5 (PRO 5).

Authorities said the injured victims were rushed to a hospital for medical treatment. 

Police have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the explosion. 

Initial findings suggest it may have been triggered by a pressurized biogas explosion, although authorities said this has yet to be confirmed pending forensic examination.

Responding personnel from the Masbate City Police Station and the Masbate Police Provincial Office immediately secured the area and began gathering evidence. 

PRO 5 said investigators are reviewing CCTV footage, interviewing potential witnesses, and conducting forensic tests on samples collected from the scene as part of efforts to establish what caused the blast.

Regional Director Brig. Gen. Randy Glenn Silvio said authorities are undertaking all necessary investigative procedures to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. 

The public has been urged to avoid spreading unverified information while the investigation is ongoing.