Taiwan ready to provide help to quake-hit Philippines: Lai

Manila, June 9 (CNA) Taiwan is ready to provide necessary assistance to the Philippines, which was hit Monday by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake causing massive casualties and damage, according to Taiwan's representative office in the Southeast Asian country, which cited comments by President Lai Ching-te (賴清德).

"Our thoughts are with the people of the Philippines following today's devastating earthquake," Lai said in a message on his X page on Monday, which was reposted by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines on its Facebook page on Tuesday.

"As a close neighbor, Taiwan stands ready to provide any assistance needed and we pray for a swift recovery and rebuilding efforts," Lai added.'

The deadly temblor hit Mindanao, southern Philippines, with the epicenter located off the coast of Sarangani's Maasim at about 33 kilometers in depth, causing at least 36 deaths and injuring an additional 167 with four missing, according to the country's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Centre (NDRRMC).

The office also reposted a message from Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) saying Taipei "extends its heartfelt condolences to the people of the Philippines following the devastating earthquake in Mindanao."

"Our thoughts are with the families of those who lost loved ones, the injured and all affected communities. We wish the Philippines a swift recovery," MOFA added.

The Taiwan office said it is currently in discussions with relevant government agencies in the Philippines about donations of relief supplies to help those impacted by the earthquake.

According to a report released by the NDRRMC, as of Tuesday morning, there had been about 840 aftershocks, 19 of which were felt, with the largest one reaching a magnitude of 6.7.

The report said a total of 19,529 households with about 88,000 residents have been affected by the earthquake, adding that more than 19,600 of them have been placed in shelters.

Soon after the 7.8 earthquake on Monday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology issued a tsunami warning. Tsunami waves measuring 1.48 meters were reported in Kiamba township before the advisory was cancelled in the afternoon.

The earthquake caused landslides and damaged infrastructure with damage estimated at 15 million Philippine pesos (US$243,736), according to statistics.