Vientiane: The death toll from the 6.9-magnitude offshore earthquake in the central region of the Philippines has risen to 72, as reported by the Philippine Office of Civil Defence. The earthquake struck on the evening of September 30, causing widespread devastation and casualties.
According to Lao News Agency, in addition to the fatalities, 294 people have been injured in the disaster. The authorities are prioritizing rescue operations, which are ongoing as emergency responders work tirelessly to locate and assist potential survivors.
In Indonesia, the situation remains dire following the collapse of a multi-storey building at an Islamic boarding school in East Java province. The Indonesian national disaster management agency BNPB has reported that approximately 59 individuals are still trapped under the debris. The collapse, which occurred on the afternoon of September 29 during a prayer gathering, resulted in at least six fatalities and injured dozens more.
Efforts to rescue those trapped in the Indonesian building have been complicated by a subsequent 6.5-magnitude earthquake in Sumenep on October 1. This earthquake caused the debris to compact further, reducing the spaces in which survivors might be found. Experts have suggested that the collapse may have been caused by weak foundations that were unable to support the expanded upper structure.