MANILA — The Chinese government on Dec 21 started distributing relief supplies to help thousands of victims of Typhoon Rai that battered the central and parts of the southern Philippine regions last week.

The death toll from Typhoon Rai had climbed to 375 with 56 more still missing, a report from the Philippine police said on Dec 20.

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian said that Chinese relief goods are on the way to typhoon-affected areas in the central and southern Philippines.

"Our hearts go out to all the Filipino families who were devastated by Typhoon Rai, which has caused massive casualties as well as property loss," Huang said in a statement.

In an urgent response, Huang said the Chinese Embassy in Manila has raised 20,000 food packages worth around 8 million pesos ($160,394). Each package contains 5 kilos of rice, 10 canned food, and 10 noodles packs.

"With the help of the local Filipino-Chinese community, these relief goods are on their way to Cebu, Leyte, Negros Occidental, Bohol, Cagayan de Oro City, Surigao City, (and) Negros Oriental," Huang said.

Huang said 4.725 million kilos of Chinese government-donated rice are already in different Philippine ports. He said 1.5 million kilograms are in Cebu now, while the 3.225 million kilograms are in Manila for transport to the typhoon-affected areas.

Huang thanked the Philippine government, particularly the Department of Social Welfare and Development, for urgently distributing the rice to the Filipino victims.

"China will do its utmost to continue its firm support to the disaster relief efforts of the Philippine government and the Filipino people. We wish all those affected could overcome the difficulties and rebuild their homes at an early date," Huang added.

On Dec 20, Xu Wei, spokesperson for China International Development Cooperation Agency, said that the Chinese government is ready to help the Philippines in its efforts to recover from the deadly typhoon.

Xu said that China has expressed its deep condolences to the victims.

On the afternoon of Dec 21, Typhoon Rai first slammed into Siargao Island, off the eastern coast on Mindanao island in the southern Philippines. It lashed the Philippines for three days, causing flooding and landslides.

Rai exited the Philippines on Dec 18, leaving a trail of destruction in the central and southern Philippines region, including some areas in the main Luzon island.