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ZAMBOANGA CITY (MindaNews/30 May) – Two children died while another was wounded in an explosion Wednesday in the municipality of Al-Barka in Basilan province, a top military official disclosed.
The fatalities were identified as Saidi Samir, 9, and his younger sister Sarhana, according to Col. Carlito Galvez, commander of the Army’s Basilan-based 104th Infantry Brigade.
Wounded was Nasri Baddiri, 14, the uncle of the two children.
The explosion occurred around 4 p.m. Wednesday at the residence of the Samirs in Sitio Pagtawanan, Barangay Magcawa in Al-Barka.
Prior to the explosion, Galvez said that Saidi found an unexploded 40 mm grenade launcher in their community and brought it home.
He said the grenade launcher exploded several minutes later after Saidi and Sarhana tinkered with the ammunition, killing them instantly.