Chinese President Xi Jinping conveyed sympathy to his Filipino counterpart President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. over the devastating magnitude-7.0 earthquake that struck Luzon last July 27.
In his message, Xi said he was shocked to learn that the earthquake caused casualties and property losses.
"On behalf of the Chinese government and people, and in his own name, Xi expressed deep condolences over the deaths, and extended sincere sympathies to the bereaved families and the wounded," a statement from the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines said.
The Chinese President also expressed his belief that under the leadership of Marcos and the Philippine government, people in the earthquake-stricken areas "will surely overcome the disaster and rebuild their homes."
According to the latest assessment of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), a total of 62,024 families or 228,238 individuals from 639 barangays in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos (Region 1), and Cagayan Valley (Region 2) were affected by the strong earthquake.
Several roads and bridges were also damaged resulting in almost P400-million cost of damage as of July 29.
Several cultural and heritage sites in Abra and Ilocos Sur were also severely damaged, including centuries-old churches such as the Tayum Church and Sta. Catalina de Alexandria Church, the Vigan Cathedral, the Bantay Bell Tower, and the iconic Calle Crisologo in Vigan.
Since July 27, a total of 1,459 aftershocks have been recorded by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).