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The MOFA conveys its sincere condolences to the Philippines July 27 on behalf of the government and people of Taiwan following a magnitude 7.1 earthquake. (Staff photo/Pang Chia-shan)
 

The government and people of Taiwan extend their sincere condolences to the Philippines following the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that hit the province of Abra in the northern island of Luzon, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs July 27.

The earthquake caused buildings to collapse and injured many people, the MOFA said, adding that the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology warned that aftershocks will continue over the next few days.

In the aftermath of the disaster, Foreign Minister Jaushieh Joseph Wu instructed Wallace Minn-gan Chow, director-general of the ministry’s Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, to call Teodoro Luis B. Javelosa Jr., deputy head of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office.

Chow extended his sincere sympathies and said a special search team under Taiwan’s National Fire Agency stands ready to assist if needed. In response, Javelosa Jr. thanked the government and people and said his government would make a request when necessary.

Michael Pei-yung Hsu, head of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines, also expressed deep concern and condolences to Silvestre Bello III, newly appointed chairman and resident representative of the MECO.

In the meantime, the MOFA and the TECO in the Philippines will continue to monitor the situation and make sure Taiwan’s businesspeople and expatriates are offered any necessary assistance in the earthquake-hit country.

In a tweet on its official Twitter account, the MOFA said “We extend our deepest condolences to the #Philippines following the magnitude 7.1 quake affecting the north of the country. #Taiwan stands ready to assist if requested & will keep monitoring the situation closely.” (YCH-E)