Fatal disasters in Philippines, Indonesia

Typhoon Koppu lands the central Philippines (Source: AP)

At least seven people were killed and two others went missing after a passenger motorboat capsized in the central Philippines on October 18, announced the country’s coast guard on October 19.

The fatalities included 6 and 9-year-old boys and two crew members.

The other 32 people on board were rescued by the coast guard and other boats.

The motorboat, carrying 36 passengers and five crew members, was on its way to Guimaras province from Iloilo city when it was battered by strong winds and huge waves caused by typhoon Koppu.

The typhoon landed in the northeast Philippines on October 18 with very strong winds, leaving two dead and four injured while forcing 16,000 people to evacuate from their homes and causing power outages in nine provinces.

On the same day, Indonesian authorities announced that seven hikers died and two others were severely injured after being caught in a forest fire on a mountain in Java island.

According to an official from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, the accident happened on October 18 when a group of hikers were climbing the Lawu mountain.

The blaze was believed to have been caused by a bonfire set by hikers that had not been properly extinguished.

Previously, local authorities had prohibited hiking activities in the area due to the possibility of forest fires in the dry season.-VNA