DHARAMSHALA, AUGUST 11: The Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama has expressed his sadness over the two recent disasters in Taiwan that left around 80 people dead sand over 300 injured.
The Tibetan leader, on his Chinese language official website, expressed condolences to the families of the victims of two incidents.
“I was heartbroken when I was informed of the Kaohsiung blasts and an earlier plane crash in Penghu. I have been to Taiwan and Kaohsiung and I remember the people’s kindness and piety,” the 1989 Nobel laureate said in a letter.
“I have never forgotten you in my heart and I will continue to pray for you,” said His Holiness who came to know of the disasters through his aides. His Holiness had entered into a spiritual retreat on July 25.
Tsegyam Ngaba, secretary (Chinese language) of the Dalai Lama’s office, told Taipei TimesSaturday that the letter had been delivered to Taipei’s Office of Tibet.
When the His Holiness learned of the incidents, he became “serious and solemn and clasped his hands in devout prayer,” Ngaba was quoted as saying.
The Tibetan spiritual leader visited Taiwan in 2009 after Typhoon Morakot caused massive flooding and landslides that killed about 700 people.
Forty-eight people were killed and 10 injured when TransAsia Airways Flight 222 crashed near Magong Airport in Penghu on July 23, while 30 people were killed and 310 injured in a series of deadly gas explosions in Kaohsiung on July 31 and Aug. 1.
