Three children, including an eight-year-old boy, and an 85-year-old woman died, while two other minors were wounded when an unidentified explosive device went off in Sitio Raniag, Barangay Sinamar, Roxas, Isabela, at around 9 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 4, police said.
The two other minors, all residents of the village, were brought to the Manuel A. Roxas District Hospital (MARDH) for treatment.
Witnesses said they heard a loud explosion and later saw the victims sprawled on the ground.
Police have yet to determine the type of explosive device involved. The Roxas-Mallig Plains Satellite Forensic Office and the Provincial EOD and Canine Unit were processing the blast site.
Witnesses said the boys had been playing with a metallic device, which they believed was an explosive, shortly before the blast.
The elderly woman, who was on her way to church, reportedly approached the children and warned them about playing with the device. She was also struck by shrapnel when it exploded.