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According to Davao City Police, the incident took place at 10.20pm local time at a street market outside the high-end Marco Polo hotel in Davao, in the southern Philippines. Witnesses reported hearing loud bangs and smoke billowed across the city - which residents repeatedly claim is the "safest in the world". Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella confirmed that some 60 people were wounded who were rushed to the San Pedro Hospital for treatment. A further 12 - including five men and five women - have been confirmed dead.

TWITTER Witnesses reported hearing loud bangs at Davao night market

The City Government of Davao posted on its Facebook account: "Reported explosion in Davao City Friday night left a number of people dead and several others wounded. "Investigations goin on. Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte asked public to go home and bars to close down." A second explosion allegedly happened minutes after the first explosion. Students at the Ateneo de Davao University have been advised to go home, and bars have been closed as a lockdown is placed on the area.

TWITTER Officials have confirmed at least ten have been killed

TWITTER The incident took place at a street market outside the high-end Marco Polo hotel

John Rhyl Sialmo III, 20, a student at the nearby Ateneo de Davao University. said: "We were having a meeting and we heard a very huge explosion. The first thing we thought was 'it's a bomb'. "The area where there was the explosion was a massage parlour. So we saw these men and women from that place in their uniform, they went to the school lobby to seek help. They were soaked in blood." The incident comes after the national police force thwarted an assassination plot against President Rodrigo Duterte, who usually flies home to Davao City every weekend. The explosion was outside a hotel that he visits frequently, although on Friday he shrugged off rumours of the assassination plot - saying such threats were to be expected.

Just In : Explosion in Davao City

Keep safe everyone

Ctto Arci Arsi pic.twitter.com/cVfUmGHDuA — EMY LoveToMiho (@emilificent16) September 2, 2016

It was confirmed he was in Davao on Friday, but was safe and at a police station after the explosion, his son - and the city's vice mayor - Paolo Duterte said. In July, the young vice mayor warned about a possible threat from the Islamic State group, saying the urbanized city had received threats from the extremist group and was attempting to confirm them. No links to Islamic extremists have yet been found in this case. In a statement to citizens today, he said: "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 hospital because of the incident and a number were reported wounded.

TWITTER Dozens were rushed to hospital

TWITTER The area has since been evacuated and people told to stay inside

Let us pray for the victims of this unfortunate incident, especially for those who died. Paolo Duterte

"Rest assured the authorities are on top of this incident. "Right now, we cannot yet give definitive answers to questions as to who is behind this as we are also trying to determine what really exploded. "It is a sad day for Davao and the Philippines." A few hours after the explosion in Roxas Night Market in Davao City, President Duterte held an emergency command conference with city officials and law enforcement agencies. A source close to him said he may cancel his trips to brunei, Lao and Indonesia - but added: "It is up to the President if he will stay in Davao City or fly back to Manila for his safety."

TWITTER Students have been told to leave the area and return home

Police are currently investigating the cause of the explosion. Inspector Catherine dela Rey said in a radio interview there is no report yet on what caused the blast. But she said officers "confirmed many were injured," and that "more or less 30 wounded were brought to hospital." Regional police chief Manuel Guerlan said a ring of checkpoints had been thrown around the city's exit points. "A thorough investigation is being conducted to determine the cause of the explosion," he said. "We call on all the people to be vigilant at all times."

Davao Police Spokes says they're locking down Davao City with checkpoints after an explosion at Roxas night market. pic.twitter.com/sk2FinAqHN — Mariz Umali (@marizumali) September 2, 2016

I think those people behind the Davao City blast is threatening our President. #PrayforDavao #PrayforPhilippines — NU'EST Canvas ������ (@riku_maki) September 2, 2016

Hundreds of social media users have already paid tribute to those hurt or potentially killed in the explosion. Laurence said: "Davao City may never be the Davao City we used to know anymore :(" Junrix Monter said: "I was deeply saddened to hear about the bombing in Davao City. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families." Reza Parker added: "Davao City was rocked by an explosion tonight. My prayers are with you, Davao. Be strong as a community." Davao is located in Mindanao, a large southern island beset by decades of Islamist insurgency. However, the city itself has been largely peaceful in recent years.