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Dili, July 22nd, 2021
Press Release
Government of Timor-Leste expresses solidarity with China
The Government of Timor-Leste extends its heartfelt condolences to the Government and people of the People’s Republic of China following the massive devastation and loss of lives resulting from the last few days’ torrential rains in central China, which the country’s meteorological authorities say were the heaviest in the last thousand years.
At least 25 people have died and seven are missing in the provincial capital Zhengzhou, located about 700 kilometres southwest of Beijing. More than one million people are estimated to have been affected by the floods and about 200,000 people have been evacuated to shelters.
The torrential rain has flooded the city’s underground system, destroyed roads, vehicles and houses and some hospitals are flooded and without electricity.
The Spokesperson of the Eighth Constitutional Government, Minister Fidelis Magalhães, on behalf of the Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak and the entire Government, expressed his “solidarity with the Government and People of the People’s Republic of China, who are facing the effects of this catastrophe” and stated that “at this difficult time, our thoughts are with the victims and their families and we commend those who remain determined to search for survivors”. END