The diplomat said that on behalf of the Canadian people, he sympathized deeply with the individuals and communities affected by the ‘terrible’ storm, especially those who lost their loved ones.

On the occasion, the Canadian government also announced five million Canadian dollars in aid for the Southeast Asian countries that were struck by the storm.

Ketsana, which was the ninth storm to hit Vietnam so far this year, has been covered by many news agencies and broadcasters worldwide, creating a lot of sympathy from their readers and viewers.

Many Japanese people are especially concerned with the news of storms and floods in Vietnam. Isizaki Sinichi, from Kobe city, said he and many others have seen and learnt a lot about the Vietnamese situation on television.

“In Kobe city we suffered a terrific earthquake 14 years ago,” he said. “So we could feel and understand the current losses of the Vietnamese people. We hope they can quickly overcome their difficulties and return to their normal lives.”