Accidental mortar bomb blast kills 8, injures 5 in S. Philippines

MANILA, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- A mortar bomb accidentally exploded in southern Philippines, killing at least eight people and injuring five others, a police report said on Thursday.

Police said the explosion occurred around 5:00 p.m. local time on Wednesday when Marcelo Antogan, a lumber worker, tinkered with the bomb he found in the field in Sirawai, a town about 800 km south of Manila.

Antogan and seven other relatives around him died in the scene, while five others were wounded, police said.

"Surrounded by relatives and neighbors, he tried to pry it open using hammer when it suddenly exploded immediately killing eight people and critically wounding five others," a police report said.

The police said the lumber worker apparently did not know that the object he dug up from the field was a bomb.

Southern Philippine island of Mindanao has a long history of conflict, with armed groups including the Muslim separatists, Islamic extremists, communist insurgents, clan militias and criminal groups all active.

Police are looking into the incident. Enditem