All aerial assets, several rescue boats, and more than 200 personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard were deployed Saturday to help in the massive rescue operations conducted in heavily-flooded communities in Isabela and Cagayan.
The Coast Guard’s two airbus light twin engine helicopters and its BN Islander Plane, PCG-251, were deployed early Saturday morning to assess the damage caused by widespread flooding in the provinces and help in urgent aerial rescue operations for trapped residents.
Aerial surveillance over several communities in Tuguegarao City showed a massive part of Cagayan submerged in record-high floods as a result of the continuous discharge of water from Magat Dam which also caused the Cagayan River to swell to its critical level at 12.7 meters.
At 1:45 p.m. Saturday, the Philippine Coast Guard main in Manila sent 120 personnel, including deployable response teams, one doctor, three nurses, handlers of two K9 dogs, logistics support, and security teams to Tuguegarao City in Cagayan and Isabela.
The teams will be transported to these provinces onboard two Coast Guard buses, two PCG M35 military type trucks, pick-up trucks, and a PCG Auxiliary boom truck.
“They are bringing with them additional two rubber boats with outboard motors (OBMs), generators, cotbeds, food and water provisions, drums of automotive and aviation fuel to sustain land and air search and rescue operations in the disaster-stricken areas,” the Coast Guard said.
At dawn Saturday, a team of rescuers equipped with four rubber boats was deployed from Manila to Tuguegarao City.
Early Saturday morning, a total of 115 personnel from various Coast Guard districts in nearby provinces were also deployed to respond to the calls for rescue in Cagayan, specifically in the capital city.
Three multi-purpose response vessels – BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301), BRP Malapascua (MRRV-4403), and BRP Sindangan (MRRV-4407) – arrived at the Port of Virac in Catanduanes Saturday to unload relief packs for communities affected by super typhoon “Rolly.”
The three vessels transported 73 tons of goods, including food packs, sacks of rice, and purified drinking water that will be distributed to the affected municipalities in Catanduanes.