Taiwan on Wednesday donated US$500,000 to the Philippines to help aid the Southeast Asian country's recovery from the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Rai, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

In a ceremony held in Taipei, Chairman and Resident Representative of the Manila Economic and Cultural Office Wilfredo B. Fernandez accepted the donation on behalf of his country from Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (???), the ministry said in a statement.

Wu expressed his condolences on behalf of Taiwan's government and people to the Philippines, with the country reporting 375 deaths caused by floods and landslides brought by the typhoon as of Tuesday.

The Philippine government will use the money to deliver resources to people hard hit in the central and southern parts of his country, Fernandez said, according to the foreign ministry's statement.

On Tuesday, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte declared a "state of calamity" in six areas -- Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and Caraga -- battered by the typhoon known as Odette locally, according to Philippine News Agency (PNA).

The typhoon first made landfall in Siargao Island in the southeastern Philippines on Dec. 16 before wreaking havoc through the country, PNA reported.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel