BACOLOD CITY, Philippines -- Five children were injured, two of them seriously, when a live M-203 rifle grenade they mistook for scrap iron exploded Sunday in Sagay City, Negros Occidental.

Police said Andro Villaflor, 9, Maria Elaiza Esporas, 8, and sisters Louella, 7, and Mariel, 9, Magbato, found the rifle grenade that had been discarded by Wlfredo Cabiao, who had earlier found it but did not know what it was.

They brought the grenade to a private cemetery in Barangay (village) Taba-ao, Sagay City where Esporas pounded on it, triggering the explosion, Sagay police chief Superintendent William Señoron said.

Another child, April Rose Bacalso, 9, who was 20 meters away from the four, was hit by a piece of shrapnel.

Señoron said Esporas, whose right hand was almost severed by the explosion, and Villaflor were seriously hurt and are being treated at the Our Lady of Mercy Hospital in Bacolod City.

The Magbato sisters and Bacalso are confined at the Alfredo Marañon Sr. Memorial Hospital in Barangay Bato, Sagay City.