(UPDATE) At least 1 dies, 35 others wounded in Mlang IED blast

MLANG, North Cotabato– At least one person was killed and 35 others were wounded when a powerful bomb went off just outside the public market here, around 3:45 p.m., Wednesday.(Earlier sketchy report said four have died)Bong Pinol, Mlang municipal administrator, said only one was confirmed dead while four are in critical condition in various hospitals. Barangay Poblacion chairman Rafael Porras said the injured revelers were rushed to M’lang Doctors Hospital and M’lang District Hospital. Others, he said, were transferred to several private hospitals in Kidapawan City for further treatment. He said many of those injured sustained shrapnel wounds in different parts of their bodies, especially on their feet and their lower respiratory. Authorities, led by Sr. Insp. Joan Resurreccion, have immediately cordoned the place as they continue to search for secondary bomb. They recovered shrapnel from an improvised explosive device. The IED, according to Porras, was planted just few feet away from the entrance of the public market. The Wednesday blast was the second in M’lang since Nov 23 that killed three male teenagers and hurt more than 20 others. The recent blast also happened a day after police from the regional PNP headquarters nabbed in M’lang a suspected bomber believed responsible for the Nov 23 deadly blast.