Death toll in Philippine earthquake rises to 72

MANILA -- The magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck Cebu province in the central Philippines on Sept 30 resulted in 72 deaths and affected 547,394 individuals, the country's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Monday.

The NDRRMC reported that 559 people have been injured in the 5-kilometer-deep, offshore quake that hit the region at 9:59 pm local time while villagers were asleep or preparing to go to bed.

The tremor also caused widespread damage to infrastructure, homes, and businesses.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology continues to record aftershocks, with more than 7,000 as of 2 pm local time on Monday, prompting people to stay in open spaces in makeshift tents due to safety concerns.