Rescue operations on earthquake victims moving quickly

By Nephele Kirong

Tuesday 7th of February 2012

CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City, Feb 7 (PIA) -- The ongoing relief and rescue operations are moving swiftly, assured Director Edgardo Ollet of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Center. This, after an earthquake with magnitude 6.9 hit Central Visayas, Monday.

The operations chief said the response is quicker as the areas affected are near military camps; noting that the Armed Forces of the Philippines was among the first to respond to the disaster. He said that the only obstacle to their operations was the blackout that followed the earthquake and lasted for hours.

Two Huey helicopters did an aerial assessment of the affected areas according to Ollet.

Meanwhile, he also said there was a meeting today to mobilize a C130 (cargo transport aircraft) or a ship from here.

“Pero yung Social Welfare office sa Cebu ay mayroong 40 tents doon na nakaumang, kailangan na lang ng logistics. Sabi naman ng Navy, meron naman silang boats that can start moving these items (The Cebu Social Welfare has already 40 tents ready for dispatch. They just need the logistics, but the Navy said they have boats from there that can start moving these items),” he added.

According to him, the Department of Health has doctors from Cebu ready to be deployed to Guihulngan City and to the municipality of Tayasan in Negros Oriental.(MYQ/NFK-PIA GHQ)