Quake death toll rises to eight in Philippines
Manila, Nov 19: The death toll from the 6.8-magnitude earthquake that rocked the Philippines rose to eight, the Philippines’ disaster agency said on Sunday. The number of casualties “is still subject to validation,” adding that provincial officials are continuously conducting assessments, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said. The agency said one died in Davao Occidental province, three in South Cotabato province, and four in Sarangani province, Xinhua news agency reported. The quake affected over 1,500 people. Around 50 houses and over 70 structures were damaged, including school buildings, government facilities, bridges, roads and private establishments. Some of the damaged roads are still not passable, the agency added. The archipelagic country has frequent seismic activities due to its location along the Pacific Ring of Fire. (IANS)
Ex-military plane crashes in Australia
Sydney, Nov 19: Two former military planes on a training flight collided on Sunday over the Mornington Peninsula in Australia, sending one plummeting into the water, local media reported. One plane crashed into the ocean about 12 km off the coast of Mount Martha while the other plane made it back to its base after the disaster struck about 1:45 p.m. local time (0245 GMT), The Herald Sun reported. Search and rescue crews were scouring the waters in Mount Martha, located about 50 km southeast of Melbourne, Xinhua news agency reported. Australia’s maritime authorities confirmed two people were on board each of the Viper S-211 Marchetti light aircraft. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) “understands there were two people on board each aircraft: one aircraft landed safely at Essendon airfield, while the other crashed into the water in Port Phillip,” it said. Three AMSA rescue helicopters remained at the scene late into Sunday afternoon and a number of Victoria Water Police boats, coastguard and jet skis were seen in the waters, Xinhua news agency reported quoting ABC News. (IANS)
Roadside bomb kills 3 people in Baluchistan
Quetta, Nov 19: A roadside bomb exploded, killing three people in insurgency-hit southwestern Baluchistan province on Sunday, police said. Police officer Mohammad Rahim said the bomb was planted on a dirt road in Balgatar area of Kech district and was detonated remotely. Three men, two of whom were brothers, were killed while on their way to a family gathering, and a privately owned car was destroyed, he said. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the blast but suspicion falls on Baluch nationalists turned separatist groups who have been involved in low-level insurgency for over two decades in the gas and mineral-rich province. The groups have been calling for independence from the central government in Islamabad. Kech district have suffered from insurgency for years. Insurgent groups have claimed responsibility for attacks on security forces and civilian targets in recent months. Islamic militants and a banned Sunni extremist group also operate in the province. (AP) .