PAF transports boxes of relief goods to storm-hit Northern Luzon

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) transports more than 2,600 boxes of food packs and relief items to storm-hit Northern Luzon areas from November 12-13, 2024. Photo courtesy of PAF

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Air Force (PAF) transported more than 2,600 boxes of food packs and relief items to storm-hit Northern Luzon areas.

PAF said in a statement that 2,650 relief boxes from the Department of Social Welfare and Development were delivered via two black hawk helicopters from November 12 to 13.

A thousand boxes of these were sent to the coastal areas of Maconacon in Isabela, while 1,650 boxes were delivered to the islands of Fuga and Calayan in Cagayan.

PAF also disclosed that its C130 aircraft transported relief packs to Basco, Batanes, specifically to communities in the northernmost islands of Itbayat and Sabtang.

READ: Ofel now a super typhoon; Signal No. 5 up in Cagayan

Aside from its troops, the PAF said that the “Philippine Army, Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Marine Corps, and civilian volunteers worked hand-in-hand in loading and unloading the relief supplies.”

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) transports more than 2,600 boxes of food packs and relief items to storm-hit Northern Luzon areas from November 12-13, 2024. Photo courtesy of PAF

In less than a month, five weather disturbances have hit the country: Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami), Typhoon Leon (international name: Kong-rey), Typhoon Marce (international name: Yinxing), Typhoon Nika (international name: Toraji), and now Typhoon Ofel (international name: Usagi).

Kristine left the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) last October 25, while Leon exited on November 1. Marce went outside PAR on November 8 and Nika on November 12.

As for Ofel, it further gained strength into a super typhoon around 5 a.m. on Thursday, November 14, prompting the declaration of Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 5 over the northeastern portion of mainland Cagayan.

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) transports more than 2,600 boxes of food packs and relief items to storm-hit Northern Luzon areas from November 12-13, 2024. Photo courtesy of PAF

Very strong winds greater than 185 kilometers per hour (kph) may be expected in areas under TCWS No. 5, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Ofel’s latest location was 165 kilometers east-southeast of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, packing maximum sustained winds of 185 kph and gustiness of up to 230 kph, based on Pagasa’s 8 a.m. cyclone bulletin.

The super typhoon was moving northwestward at 15 kph, the latest track forecast on Ofel showed.