Death toll in Venezuela earthquakes tops 1,450
The death toll in the twin earthquakes which rocked Venezuela earlier this week has risen to 1,450, top lawmaker Jorge Rodriguez said on Saturday. Ano...
A powerful earthquake struck off the southern Philippine island of Mindanao on Monday (8 June), killing at least 32 people and triggering tsunami warnings across the region.
Philippine police said 129 people were injured in the magnitude 7.8 quake, which struck offshore near Mindanao.
Authorities also reported power outages, infrastructure damage and disruptions to communications in areas close to the epicentre.
Tsunami alerts were issued in the Philippines and parts of neighbouring Indonesia, with coastal communities urged to move to higher ground as a precaution.
However, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) later lifted its tsunami alert, saying that observed sea level disturbances were too small to cause damage.
In General Santos, about 15 kilometres from the epicentre, local media reported falling furniture and damage to televisions and other household appliances. Local disaster officials said assessments of damage and any casualties were continuing.
The General Santos disaster office said officials were assessing reports of damage and injuries while aftershocks were still being felt.
In Sarangani province, near the epicentre, power and telecommunications services were disrupted and schools suspended classes, according to local disaster chief Rene Punzalan.
Authorities said assessments were continuing, with no immediate reports of collapsed buildings.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said the government was moving quickly to coordinate its response.
"The national government is moving and we will not leave Mindanao behind," Marcos said in a statement.
In Maasim town, disaster chief Arlene Hollero said evacuations were underway in coastal villages.
Water briefly receded after the quake, raising concerns about possible tsunami activity, although sea conditions later appeared normal, she said.
A bridge suffered cracks and a shrine topped by a large cross collapsed.
"It's devastating," Hollero told Reuters.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) warned that tsunami waves exceeding one metre could affect coastal areas for several hours.
Indonesia's geophysics agency said waves measuring around 0.19 metres had been detected, while authorities there reported no immediate damage.
Witnesses in Indonesia's northern city of Manado and residents across southern Philippines said the earthquake was felt strongly.
Benjie Ancheta, police chief in the town of Alabel, said the local police station suffered cracks during the quake, which struck while officers were attending a flag-raising ceremony.
"This is the strongest earthquake we've experienced," Ancheta said.
The German Research Centre for Geosciences said the earthquake struck at a depth of 10 kilometres. It initially estimated the quake at magnitude 8.2 before revising it to 7.8.
The Philippines and Indonesia sit along the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the world's most active seismic zones, where earthquakes and volcanic activity are common.
France said on Saturday it was considering taking reciprocal measures after Burkina Faso broke off diplomatic relations.
Japan remained on high alert Saturday as Typhoon Mekkhala approached the eastern coast after Typhoon Higos weakened into a tropical depression. Authorities warned of continued heavy rain, flooding, and landslides, according to media reports.
A tanker reported being struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, Britain's maritime security agency said, after the United States and Iran each launched strikes in the worst escalation since they signed their interim peace deal.
Germany and Poland are bracing for sweltering conditions as a deadly heatwave that has gripped Western Europe moves east, with temperatures expected to approach 40°C over the weekend.
Iran had a stoppage-time goal disallowed as they drew 1-1 with Egypt in their final Group G match at Seattle Stadium on Friday.
The death toll in the twin earthquakes which rocked Venezuela earlier this week has risen to 1,450, top lawmaker Jorge Rodriguez said on Saturday. Another 3,200 people were injured and 3,100 left homeless by the disaster, he added on state television.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the country is going through a “difficult period”, but has learned much from it, according to state news agency TASS.
Pope Leo has expressed solidarity with people in Venezuela after twin earthquakes struck the country earlier this week, causing widespread damage and leaving communities in urgent need of assistance.
Eleven people were killed when a small plane carrying skydivers crashed near Nancy in eastern France on Sunday, local officials said.
France has recorded 1,000 excess deaths during the severe heatwave that swept across Europe, according to the country's public health agency, which warned the final toll is likely to rise.
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