Taiwan is willing to help with rescue efforts after a powerful earthquake hit the northern Philippine island of Luzon Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said that day.
The 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck the province of Abra, about 436 kilometers north of the capital, Manila, Wednesday morning, causing buildings to collapse across Luzon and injuring dozens, the ministry said in a statement.
At least four people were killed, while more than 200 aftershocks followed the earthquake, according to foreign media reports.
After learning of the earthquake, Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) immediately directed Wallace Chow (周民淦), head of the ministry’s Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, to phone Manila Economic and Cultural Office Deputy Resident Representative Teodoro Luis B. Javelosa Jr.
During the call, Chow expressed his sincere sympathies for those affected by the earthquake on behalf of Taiwan’s government and people, according to MOFA’s statement.
He also told Teodoro that Taiwan’s National Fire Agency’s special search team has made preparations for an earthquake rescue mission and if the Philippines requires help, Taiwan is willing to provide assistance.
In response, Teodoro thanked the government and people of the Republic of China (Taiwan), saying that the Philippines will ask Taiwan for assistance if necessary.
Meanwhile, Taiwan’s representative to the Philippines, Michael Hsu (徐佩勇), on Wednesday also expressed his sympathies on behalf of the country to Silvestre Bello III, the newly-appointed MECO chairman and representative to Taiwan, and expressed Taiwan’s willingness to provide assistance.
According to the information obtained by Taiwan’s representative office in the Philippines, Taiwanese businessmen and nationals in the earthquake-hit country are safe.
If Taiwan nationals in the Philippines require assistance, they are advised to call the emergency contact number of Taiwan’s representative office in the country: +63-917-819-4597 or ask relatives or friends in Taiwan to call the ministry’s emergency phone number: 0800-085-095.
In addition, Taipei City Fire Department said the city’s search and rescue team is on standby to provide the Philippines with disaster relief aid and if it receives the green light from MOFA, will depart for the Philippines immediately.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel