More military, coast guard assets assist in Odette response
The Philippine Coast Guard sends off BRP Gabriela Silang, its biggest ship, to bring aid to typhoon-hit areas in Visayas and Mindanao. PCG
MANILA, Philippines — More military and coast guard assets have joined the Philippine government effort for disaster relief missions in the aftermath of Typhoon Odette (Rai).
A 19-ship humanitarian aid-focused flotilla, including 7 sealift vessels, 2 patrol ships and some watercraft, has been arranged by the Philippine Navy to cater areas devastated by the typhoon, the Navy said in a statement.
Presidential yacht BRP Ang Pangulo has been repurposed to a 10-bed hospital ship and was deployed to Siargao Island on Sunday night. Siargao, a popular surfing destination, is one of the hard-hit areas from the typhoon.
The Philippine Air Force on Sunday sent a C-130 cargo aircraft to transport relief goods to Cebu. It will be distributed to residents of typhoon-hit communities in Visayas and Mindanao.
The PAF plane with tail number 5011 was recently repaired from Portugal. Only one C-130 plane is currently active in the PAF inventory, while two others are under maintenance.
Some Philippine Coast Guard ships, including its biggest vessel BRP Gabriela Silang, were also mobilized to ferry relief supplies and communications equipment.
The PCG also brought spill booms to contain possible oil spills, particularly in the Mactan Channel in Cebu, PCG spokesperson Commodore Armando Balilo told ANC.
Military and coast guard air assets have also been used earlier for reconnaissance flights and to obtain aerial images of the destruction on the ground.
Odette was the 15th typhoon to hit the Philippines this year. It made nine landfalls and left a huge trail of devastation in Palawan and parts of Visayas and Mindanao late last week.
The extent of damage from Odette is still unclear as power and communication lines have remained cut off in many areas.
