Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Wednesday personally expressed his condolences and message of sympathy to the people of South Korea through its Ambassador Lee Sang-Hwa during the latter’s courtesy call at the Manila Golf Club in Makati City.

“I know that recently, there was a flash flood in South Korea and I know there are a number of casualties. So, we’d like to condole with the people of South Korea who suffered these losses, these casualties,” Romualdez told Lee.

He said South Korea is among the first countries to send aid and rescuers to the Philippines when Super Typhoon Yolanda struck the province of Leyte and nearby areas, causing massive destruction and resulting in the death of thousands of people.

Romualdez added that while South Korea and the Philippines are different in many ways, they are similarly vulnerable to the threats posed by nature, particularly with the effects of climate change.

Reports said at least 40 people have died, 34 others were injured and over 10,000 people have had to evacuate from their homes since July 9 when heavy rain started pounding South Korea, with the severest damage seen in the country’s central and southern regions.

The reports said hundreds of rescue workers, including divers, searched for survivors in a muddy tunnel in the central city of Cheongju where about 15 vehicles, including a bus, were trapped in a flash floods.

“So again, we condole with the Korean people for the loss of lives, for the injuries, and of course to the evacuees,” Romualdez reiterated.

For his part, Lee expressed his gratitude to Romualdez, saying his expression of solidarity and sympathy with the people of South Korea “means a lot.”

The Korean official also took special note of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s expression of condolences to the people of South Korea.

Meanwhile, Romualdez and Lee also discussed ways to bolster the long-standing friendly relations between the two countries and various areas for cooperation and trade.

Also discussed was the visit to the Philippines next week of the Speaker of South Korea’s National Assembly, Kim Jin-pyo.

Kim hosted a dinner for Romualdez and the delegation of the Philippine House of Representatives during their official visit to South Korea for the ASEAN-Korea Leaders’ Forum on the occasion of the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity from May 31 to June 4, 2023. (PNA)

Photo credit: House of Representatives Official Website