MANILA, Philippines — The number of reported fatalities related to the onslaught of Typhoon “Kristine” is now at 10, the Office or Civil Defense (OCD) said on Thursday.
Kristine has left many areas submerged in massive floods in Luzon, with much of the damage in the Bicol Region.
“Our latest running total is 10,” OCD spokesman Director Edgar Posadas said during a briefing in Malacañang.
The deaths were recorded in Aringay, La Union; San Andres, Quezon; Albay; Naga City; Bagamanoc, Catanduanes; Caramoan, Catanduanes; and Palanas, Masbate.
All are still undergoing validation.
Meanwhile, Posadas also reported that the military’s air assets were now on standby and ready for deployment to assist in rescue and relief efforts in communities badly affected by the typhoon.
The air assets are prepositioned in the Philippine Air Force (PAF) headquarters in Villamor Air Base in Pasay City and Cebu — all readily deployable as soon as the weather permits takeoff.
Vital support will also be arriving in the Bicol region coming from the Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM) of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as well as other military commands from Eastern Visayas.
“I’m sure those would be a big help and with the assets ng Armed Forces readily deployable that would address and hopefully, once the weather gets better and the floods have receded, we can focus more on really providing assistance,” stated Posadas.
The government, through the Department of National Defense (DND), has also sought the assistance of member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) for relief efforts.
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro met with the envoys from Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei regarding the deployment of their respective air assets in consonance with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to bring in more goods to the affected areas, especially those unreachable by land.
“So, I think, as we speak, there are certain paper works and documentations which have to be undertaken and soon when that will be done and I’m sure we will announce, if this will already be operationalized,” Posadas said.
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