Davao night market bombing kills 15 and injures 60, Photos, Videos

Davao, Philippines - At least 15 people died and 60 others wounded in an explosion that hit Roxas Night Market in Davao City on Friday night, September 2. Davao 911 is the first respondent which is now at the ground zero that immediately gave medical assistance to the victims.

Weekend shoppers in Roxas Avenue, a market area with ukay-ukay and food vendors, were in shock over the blast.

Investigation is now ongoing. Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte asked the public to go home and bars to close down.

Here's the statement from Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte as shared by Davao City Government on Facebook:

"Let us pray for the victims of this unfortunate incident, especially for those who died. Let us pray for those who are being treated in different hospitals and pray for their quick recovery. There are at least 10 people who perished because of the incident and a number were reported wounded.

Rest assured the authorities are on top of this incident.

Abu Sayyaf group has claimed responsible for the explosion in a Davao City night market. President Rodrigo Duterte declared a state of lawlessness in the entire country following the explosion, which he called an act of terrorism.

"It's not martial law but I am inviting now the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the military and the police to run the country in accordance with my specifications," the President said.

"There is a crisis in this country now involving drugs, extrajudicial killings as they say, killings and there seems to be the environment of lawlessness."

Duterte will issue an official declaration to specify provisions, Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre told CNN Philippines.

"The exact nature and coverage and wordings will be specified in the declaration soon to be issued by the President," Aguirre said.

He added the existence of state of lawlessness has a factual basis because there is a breakdown of law and order and a clear and present danger to public safety.