A powerful earthquake that struck Cebu province in the central Philippines on Tuesday night has killed at least 72 people and injured 200, the Philippines' Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said Wednesday.
As rescue operations continue, survivors in the worst-hit city of Bogo are confronting widespread power outages, destroyed homes, and overwhelmed medical facilities.
Many residents have been forced to sleep outdoors in tents or their vehicles, gathering in open spaces to collect relief supplies as darkness fell.
In affected neighborhoods, houses sustained severe damage as terraces collapsed, and wooden and sheet-metal structures were destroyed. Some residents remained in their damaged homes despite the danger.
Fear of aftershocks and structural damage forced the Cebu Provincial Hospital in Bogo to move bed-bound patients outside to receive treatment, including intravenous drips and oxygen, in the parking lot. The hospital is also functioning as a coordination center for rescue operations and casualty reporting.
Early on Wednesday, military vehicles carrying critical aid arrived in the affected areas of Cebu, delivering much-needed supplies to the devastated communities.
Philippines earthquake kills 72, leaves survivors facing blackouts, damaged homes
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee To Lam met with Li Shulei, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, in Hanoi on Thursday.
Li, who led a CPC delegation on a visit to Vietnam, noted that the Chinese side is willing to work with Vietnam to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between the two parties, deepen cooperation in areas such as trade and economy, science and technology, press and publication, culture and tourism, and youth.
China stands ready to make solid progress in the building of the China-Vietnam community with a shared future, Li added.
Lam expressed Vietnam's willingness to maintain close high-level exchanges with China, strengthen exchanges and cooperation across various fields, consolidate public support for bilateral friendship, and work together along the path of modernization.
During the visit, Li also met with Nguyen Xuan Thang, member of the Politburo of the CPV Central Committee and chairman of the Central Theory Council, and held talks with Trinh Van Quyet, member of the Secretariat of the CPV Central Committee and head of the CPV Central Committee's Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilization.
Li also attended the 20th theory seminar between the CPC and the CPV, and delivered a keynote speech.
Vietnamese party chief meets senior CPC official
