Philippines cathedral explosion survivors airlifted to hospital by helicopter


Footage shows survivors of a bomb blast in the Philippines being airlifted into a helicopter after at least 27 people were killed and dozens more injured this morning.

Two bombs exploded outside the Roman Catholic cathedral on Jolo island in the southern Philippine where Muslim militants are active.

As soldiers responded, a second device was detonated in the car park.

Video shows soldiers carrying some of the survivors into a waiting helicopter before they were flown to a nearby hospital for emergency treatment.

The attack comes days after a majority-Muslim area in the region voted for greater autonomy in a referendum. No group has so far said it was behind the attack. Jolo has long been a base for militants including those of the Abu Sayyaf group.

The local officials say the first blast happened at 08:45 local time (00:45 GMT) inside the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, which has been hit by bombs in the past.