Palace offers sympathies to Japan

In a rush Rescue personnel respond with a rubber dinghy during a search and rescue operation in the aftermath of the typhoon. AFP

Malacañang has expressed its deep sympathy to the people and government of Japan following the death and destruction caused by Typhoon “Hagibis” to the country.

“On behalf of the Filipino people, President Rodrigo Duterte expresses his deep sympathy to the people and government of Japan for those who perished, were injured, or found themselves homeless in the aftermath of the stongest typhoon to hit Japan in decades,” said chief Presidential Legal Counsel & Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

Panelo said the Philippine embassy in Tokyo is closely monitoring the situation and is now in coordination with the members of the Filipino community in typhoon-affected areas in Japan.

Hagibis wrath Aerial view show flooded homes beside the collapsed bank of the Chikuma river in Nagano Prefecture, a day after Typhoon “Hagibis” swept through central and eastern Japan. AFP

“As we offer our prayers, the Office of the President has likewise asked the Department of Foreign Affairs to get in touch with its Japanese counterpart for possible humanitarian assistance we can provide,” he added.

Latest news reports stated that 35 people have already been killed as Hagibis hit Japan over the weekend.

More than 100,000 rescuers — including 31,000 troops — clawed through debris overnight Sunday to Monday to reach people trapped after torrential rain caused landslides and filled rivers until they burst their banks.

The government put the death toll at 14 with 11 people missing, but local media said at least 35 people had been killed and at least 11 were unaccounted for.