SINGAPORE, MALAYSIA AIR ASSETS ARRIVE IN PHILIPPINES TO AID TRAMI RELIEF EFFORTS

MANILA, Oct 27 (Bernama-PNA/Anadolu) --  Military aircraft from Singapore and Malaysia arrived in the Philippines on Saturday to provide assistance in ongoing relief operations following the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (Trami).

A C-130 cargo aircraft from the Republic of Singapore Air Force and a Eurocopter EC725 transport helicopter from the Royal Malaysian Air Force arrived at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Saturday, Philippine News agency (PNA) reported the Philippine Air Force (PAF) said.

The aircraft are set to play a crucial role in bolstering the Philippine Air Force’s ongoing Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) operations in areas affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine, according to a statement of Col. Ma. Consular Castillo, chief of PAF Public Affairs Office.

Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. welcomed the arrival of the aircraft with Malaysian Ambassador Datuk Abd Malik Castelino, Singaporean Ambassador Constance See, and PAF Commanding General Lt. Gen Stephen Parreño.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Army (PA) stepped up its relief operations in the province of Camarines Sur, one of the hardest hit areas of Kristine.

Two Urban Search and Rescue Teams of the 525th Combat Engineer “Forerunner” Battalion distributed around 1,100 food packs and 18 boxes of drinking water for families in Barangays San Miguel, San Ramon, Umbao, Causip and San Roque in Bula town.

The PA also mobilised additional mobility assets and personnel to help flooded residents in other areas in the Bicol Region.

The Army leadership assured full support for HADR teams that are deployed in various areas to conduct swift and effective rescue and relief operations in close coordination with local government units and national government agencies.

Meanwhile, Anadolu Agency reported Typhoon Trami has displaced and affected over 5.7 million people in the Philippines as the death toll rose to 85.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, over 5.78 million individuals or more than 1.41 million families in 8,895 villages were affected by the storm, it citing the Manila Times reported.

Some 91,189 families have been moved to shelters in evacuation centers as 158 cities and municipalities were placed under a state of emergency.

The death toll also rose to 85 across the country, as 33 people were injured and 26 are still missing.

Search and rescue operations still continue in various areas.

The tropical storm also affected sections of 520 roads and 84 bridges while damaging 27,640 houses in various regions.

Even as the country recovers from one storm, local authorities on Sunday said Leon, a new Tropical Storm, is moving westward at 30 kilometers per hour (18.6 miles per hour) over the Philippine Sea and is expected to gradually intensify in the next 24 hours.

It may become a severe tropical storm on Monday and a typhoon on Tuesday, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

-- BERNAMA-PNA/ANADOLU AGENCY