May 16, 2002, Agence France-Presse, Briton, 4 Filipinos Injured in Davao Hotel Blast,

May 16, 2002, Agence France-Presse, Briton, 4 Filipinos Injured in Davao Hotel Blast,

Posted: 5:09 PM (Manila Time) | 

DAVAO – A British man and four Filipinos were seriously injured in two separate explosions in the southern Philippines on Thursday, police said.

Michael Meiring, said to be in his mid-60s, was believed to have lost both legs and was rushed to hospital after the blast in his room at the Evergreen Hotel in Davao City, city police chief Samuel Yordan said.

Police had initially identified him as Michel Mering but hotel records showed his real name.

The hotel management said Meiring is a Briton who had been staying at the hotel for several years while hunting for treasure in the troubled southern Philippines, Yordan added.

The region is said to be a trove of loot left by departing Japanese troops in World War II.

The cause of the explosion has not yet been determined but police have ruled out "outside perpetrators" and said it could have resulted from equipment stored in Meiring's room.

A fire resulting from the explosion was swiftly put out.

"Since he is a treasure hunter, it is probable he had explosive materials," Yordan told Agence France-Presse.

Chief Inspector Fe Basan said it was likely the victim would lose one leg and was still in critical condition.

A gift-wrapped bomb went off outside the public market of Midsayap town in the south about four hours later, injuring four people, said the Midsayap police chief, Sr. Supt. Raul Supeter.

He said one of his men was among the injured after he found the suspicious-looking package inside a market stall and carried it outside the marketplace, preventing potentially greater casualties.

No group has claimed responsibility for the bombing.

There have been several deadly explosions in the south in recent months, some of them linked to Muslim separatists.