(UPDATE) 26 hurt in blast in Cotabato college

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Xinhua) - At least 26 people, including government firefighters, were injured following an explosion in a state-run college in southern Philippines on Sunday night, police said today.

Provincial police chief Senior Superintendent Danilo Peralta said the explosion may have been caused by an improvised bomb which went off while firefighters were responding to a fire alarm inside the Cotabato Foundation College of Science and Technology at Doroluman village, Arakan town in North Cotabato.

Peralta said the suspected improvised bomb may have been placed near a fire truck.

Aside from the firefighters, the powerful blast also wounded students and teachers who were staying at a dormitory within the school's premises.

Police said most of the victims who were brought to nearby hospitals remain in critical condition.

Local authorities have yet to determine the motive behind the blast as well as the identity of the suspect who planted the improvised bomb.

North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Mendoza has created a special task force to investigate the incident.