Duterte offers aid to Japan after deadly rains

DZMM


ABS-CBN News
Posted at Jul 10 2018 09:32 AM
Relatives of victims by torrential rain react in the site where a house was damaged in Uwajima, Ehime Prefecture, Japan Monday. Kyodo via Reuters
MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte has offered assistance to Japan, where floods and landslides from heavy rains left 122 people killed, Malacañang said Tuesday. 
Dozens of people were still missing in central and western Japan, and with the rains finally letting up on Monday, rescue workers were able to reach previously cut-off places where authorities fear more bodies may be trapped beneath debris.
Duterte offered to send soldiers, engineers and doctors to help in the rescue and rehabilitation efforts of Manila's disaster-hit ally, his spokesperson Harry Roque told reporters after the President's 8-hour meeting with his Cabinet. 
The Philippines, Roque said, will also send medicine to Japan. 
 
Over 70,000 emergency workers have been deployed to dig through flood waters and the aftermath of landslides. 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has cancelled a 4-country foreign trip. He was expected to visit the disaster-hit region later this week.
Japan and the Philippines are known to have one of the closest partnerships in the region, with Tokyo helping Manila build its first ever subway system and supporting the peace process with Muslim rebels.
With an under-equipped military and coast guard, the Philippines has also looked to Japan to boost maritime security as the 2 nations face separate sea disputes with China.
With report from Dexter Ganibe, ABS-CBN News; Agence France-Presse 

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