The Philippines' closest ally, the United States, has sent some of its aircraft and warships to augment the military's relief and rescue operations in the wake of super typhoon Yolanda.
Military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala said the US has deployed two Osprey aircraft and nine C-130s to help deliver relief goods and rescue survivors, amid a slow trickle of relief from a government overwhelmed by the destruction by the world's strongest typhoon to hit land.
The Osprey aircraft, a hybrid of an airplane and helicopter, is capable of vertical take-off and landing, Zagala explained.
The Osprey has proven useful in ongoing relief efforts especially as roads in ravaged areas remained choked with debris and decomposing bodies, Zagala said.
"We have the stop-gap solution of bringing relief goods through helicopters. The Osprey has the same capability as the helicopter. It can vertically land in areas that are isolated, especially the islands," he said.
Meanwhile, US marines were also operating C-130 aircraft for humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations, Zagala said.
The C-130s are cargo aircraft useful for flying tons of relief goods to remote areas, Zagala said.
The country is also operating its three C-130s, "the workhorse in bringing relief goods," he added.
A "24 Oras" report aired Wednesday evening said at least nine US C-130s have been flying over Tacloban City.
Meanwhile, at least five US warships are on their way to the country to help in humanitarian operations, according to the report.
This includes the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, which also has the capability to make sea water potable, the report said.
The official death toll due to Yolanda continues to rise, with 2,275 confirmed dead and 80 still missing, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Wednesday afternoon.
President Benigno Aquino III said the death toll from Yolanda may reach 2,000 or 2,500, lower than the 10,000 previously estimated, Reuters reported. — Marc Jayson Cayabyab/JDS, GMA News
source: gmanetwork.com
