MANILA - The Chinese Embassy in the Philippines has decided to offer 440,000 pesos ($10,000) as relief funds for disaster victims in areas hit by tropical storm Washi (local name Sendong), which has claimed almost 500 lives in southern Philippines.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Chinese Embassy said the donation would soon be delivered through the Philippine National Red Cross to the victims.

According to the Philippine National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the death toll from typhoon Washi has climbed to 332 on Sunday, with 281 missing and seven injured. But the Philippine Red Cross put the death toll at 497.