President Rodrigo Duterte is sympathizing with the people of Haiti after the 7.2-magnitude quake that has killed more than a thousand, the Palace said on Monday.
“On behalf of the Filipino nation, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte extends his sincere condolences to the government and to the people of Haiti for the tragedy and devastation caused by the strong earthquake that struck Haiti,” Palace spokesman Harry Roque said in a press briefing.
At least 1,297 individuals have been reported dead due to the quake, while some 5,700 were injured.
Roque said no Filipino was affected by the quake.
“Ayon sa initial report ng Department of Foreign Affairs, wala pong Pilipinong naapektuhan ng lindol sa Haiti. Ang sentro ng lindol ay hindi po sa Port-au-Prince, ang kapitolyo ng Haiti, kung saan naroon ang marami sa ating mga kababayan,” he said.
There are over 400 Filipinos in Haiti.
Haiti was still recovering from the extremely destructive 7.0-magnitude quake in January 2010 that killed more than 200,000 people.
It was also dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic that has infected more than 20,000 residents with its limited healthcare capacities. John Ezekiel J. Hirro