The Chinese government on Sunday pledged to donate 10,000 U.S. dollars to victims of a devastating tropical storm that killed 52 and displaced hundreds of thousands in northern Philippines.

"The damages caused by incessant rains and unexpected floods were heartbreaking. The Chinese Government and people were saddened by loss of lives and have deep sympathy with the Philippine Government and people," Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Liu Jianchao said in a statement.

Liu said the fund will be channeled to the Philippine National Red Cross.

Tropical storm Kestana, locally known as "Ondoy", slammed into the eastern coast of Philippines' Luzon region on Saturday. Heavy rainfall and landslides brought by the storm left 52 people dead, 27 missing and over 300,000 people affected, most of whom were evacuated from their flooded homes.

Full-scale rescue operations started on Sunday as the storm left the country. Hundreds were believed to remain stranded in half-submerged villages and towns near the national capital region.

(Xinhua News Agency September 27, 2009)