CALIFORNIA, USA – “We are all okay. I hope they catch who did this.” 

Amanda Carpo, a Filipino participant in the Boston Marathon, told Rappler that she and her sister are safe. 

The Boston Athletic Association, the organizer of the Boston Marathon, listed 10 participants from the Philippines running in this year’s race, which was the scene of deadly explosions that killed at least two and wounded 3 dozens.

Read the initial list of at least 10 Filipino runners in Boston Marathon

“We were a few blocks from the site (Boylston Street) when the bombs went off. It sounded like a building was being demolished. They stopped cellphone traffic for a while in case the bomb was detonated through one,” Carpo recalled.

She said the response of the emergency medical crew, police, and the fire department response was “instantaneous.” “They stopped the race. Over 5,000 were still on the course when the explosion happened.”

Another Filipino who was near the blast, Susan Marie Sobrepeña, said: “Just got back to my hotel room. Was close to the finish [line] when I heard the two explosions and got stopped moving forward by the police. I feel quite lucky and blessed that my asthma held me back today from my usual faster pace.”

“I am keeping those hurt in the explosion in my prayers,” she added.

There are about 20,000 Filipinos based in the Boston area. The Philippine embassy in Washington, DC, did not receive reports of any Filipino casualties.

In a press conference earlier in the day, Massachusetts Gov Deval Patrick advised people in Boston to stay at home or in their hotel rooms, describing the situation as “fluid.” – Rappler.com