Four dead in blast at Philippine residential subdivision

The blast damaged six houses at the Sorento Subdivision in Bacoor town in Cavite province, just south of the capital.

Senior Superintendent Fidel Posadas, provincial police chief, said a cache of dynamite and other explosives used in blast fishing was believed to have caused the explosion.

"It was a very powerful explosion," he said.

According to witnesses, one of the victims was mutilated by the explosion and the body parts blown hundreds of metres away from the blast site.

The identities of the victims were not yet known.

Chunks of concrete, metal sheets and shards of glass were also scattered around the affected area. The house that was believed to be the source of the explosion was destroyed.

On October 19, 11 people were killed in an explosion at a shopping mall in the financial district of Makati City.

Police said the blast was caused by an accidental gas explosion, but owners of the mall are disputing the theory and have called for an independent inquiry.//DPA