Deadly Disasters Strike Across Asia and Africa, Hundreds Affected

Multiple tragic incidents have unfolded across the globe this week, leaving hundreds dead or injured and sparking urgent rescue efforts.

In Ethiopia, at least 36 people were killed and more than 200 injured when makeshift scaffolding collapsed at a church in Arerti town, around 70 kilometers east of the capital, Addis Ababa. The collapse occurred at approximately 7:45 a.m. during the annual Virgin Mary festival, as pilgrims gathered inside the church. Local authorities said some victims remain trapped under the rubble, and rescue efforts are ongoing.

Meanwhile, in Indonesia, rescue teams in East Java raced to locate survivors after an Islamic boarding school partially collapsed on Monday during afternoon prayers. The school had been undergoing an unauthorized expansion adding two new stories. At least three students have been confirmed dead, about 100 injured, and 91 remain unaccounted for. More than 300 workers are continuing around-the-clock efforts, aware that the chances of survival diminish rapidly after the first 24 hours following such a collapse.

In the Philippines, a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck near Bogo City at 9:59 p.m. local time on Tuesday, killing at least 69 people. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology recorded several aftershocks, many exceeding magnitude 4. A tsunami warning was briefly issued but later canceled. Rescue operations are underway as authorities assess the full extent of the damage.

These incidents highlight the fragility of infrastructure and the urgent need for safety measures during public events, construction, and in disaster-prone regions.