Death toll in Marawi City exceeds 650

(Eagle News) — The death toll in Marawi City has reached more than 600, as the fighting enters its 70th day, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) told during the Mindanao Hour press briefing in Malacañang on Monday, July 31.

In the latest report of the AFP, as of July 30, the fighting already claimed the lives of 491 on the part of the Maute group.

On the side of the government forces, 114 have already been killed while 45 civilians died in the ongoing clashes between the government and the Islamist militants.

The AFP also reported that the military had rescued a victim who was trapped in the war zone for more than two months.

Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra said that government forces have so far recovered 584 firearms and rescued 1,724 civilians.

He added that government forces were also able to clear 23 buildings on July 29, and 15 structures on July 30.