Chinese President Hu Jintao has sent a letter of condolences to
his Philippine counterpart Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for the flood
and landslide hitting central and southern parts of the
Philippines, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Monday.?
In the letter of condolences, Hu, on behalf of the Chinese
government and people, expressed sympathy and solicitude for
Arroyo, the Philippine government and people as well as relatives
of the victims of the mishaps.
He also expressed the belief that people in the affected areas
will be able to overcome the current difficulty and rebuild their
homeland under the leadership of President Arroyo.
The confirmed death toll from the massive landslides in the
central Philippine province of Southern Leyte has risen to 161 from
the early reported 89.
Meanwhile, 22 have been confirmed dead after a weekend flash
flood hit the southern province of Surigo del Norte, which is
separated only by a narrow strait from Southern Leyte.
(Xinhua News Agency December 23, 2003)