PH offers rescue team to typhoon-ravaged Japan

Roque said Duterte has offered to send Filipino soldiers, including engineers and doctors, to Japan. (Photo by By King Rodriguez – Presidential Communications Operations Office, Public Domain)

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte has offered to send a team to help in rescue and rehabilitation efforts in typhoon-ravaged Japan, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made the announcement after an almost nine-hour Cabinet meeting that lasted until 1 a.m. Tuesday.

Roque said Duterte has offered to send Filipino soldiers, including engineers and doctors, to Japan.

“Duterte will also send medicines to Japan,” Roque announced through his Twitter account.

At least 100 people have been reported dead after flash floods and landslides triggered by torrential rains hit western Japan.

Reports also said more than 60 people remained missing while thousands of houses were damaged due to the floods caused by rains that started late last week.

Japan was among many countries that extended relief assistance, as well as troops and medical teams in November 2013 when Super Typhoon Yolanda slammed the Visayas region.

Yolanda (international name Haiyan), one of the strongest typhoons recorded in history, left more than 6,000 people dead as it caused a storm surge that flattened thousands of homes and even buildings in Leyte province.