MANILA — Two powerful explosions ripped through heavily populated areas of a southern Philippine island on Monday, killing at least 11 people and wounding 43 others in a known stronghold of the extremist group Abu Sayyaf. “There was a heavy explosion” around noon near the town plaza on Jolo Island, said Capt. Police and military reports said soldiers and civilians were killed instantly in the first blast, which occurred as army personnel were assisting local municipal officials in carrying out Covid-19 humanitarian efforts. Not long after, a second explosion hit near the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Early last year, a suicide bombing at the same cathedral killed at least 23 people just as worshipers were gathering for Sunday Mass.

Source: New York Times August 24, 2020 06:32 UTC