WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sent condolences to the Philippines on Saturday after more than 600 people were feared killed in a storm, and said the United States stood 'ready' to help.
Relief workers said that 440 people had died and nearly 200 left missing after tropical storm Washi wreaked havoc in the southern Philippines, unleashing mammoth floods across vast areas of the country and destroying whole neighbourhoods.
'On behalf of President (Barack) Obama and the people of the United States, I want to send my deepest condolences for the devastation and loss of life caused by flooding from Tropical Storm Washi,' Mrs Clinton said in a statement.
'The US government stands ready to assist Philippine authorities as they respond to this tragedy.' The top US diplomat said 'our thoughts and prayers are with all of those affected.'
