Red Cross calls for more volunteers for 'Lando' operations
MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on Monday called for more volunteers as it continues its rescue operations for areas affected by Typhoon Lando.
The organization deployed nine water search and rescue teams from its national headquarters, Tarlac, Bulacan and Olongapo.
“We immediately sent rescue teams bound for Nueva Ecija as soon as we received reports of flooding and pleas for rescue from people stranded in their homes and other areas," PRC Chair Richard Gordon said.
According to PRC's rescue team members, flooding in Nueva Ecija reached chest-deep and even up to the second floor of houses in some areas.
The PRC teams have rescued 53 individuals from flooded homes Cabanatuan City and 25 people in San Jose and Sta. Rosa in Nueva Ecija.
Meanwhile, five people were rescued from a van trapped in the flood on Sunday morning in the San Jose to Sta. Rosa road in the same province.
As of 8 a.m. on Monday, 19 provinces, 39 municipalities or cities, 98 barangays, 6,140 families or 18,769 individuals have been affected by the typhoon, according to PRC reports.
A total of 129 evacuation centers have been identified with 3,324 families or 11,531 individuals.
Two casualties have been reported, one in Zambales due to a collapsed wall and one from Quezon City due to a fallen tree, while five people were reported injured and three were reported missing.
The PRC also reported that 18 municipalities in four provinces experienced flooding:
Nueva Ecija
- Gabaldon
- Laur
- Cabanatuan City
- Palayan City
- Gapan
- San Antonio
Aurora
- Baler
- Dinggalan
- Dinalungan
Pampanga
- San Fernando City
- Candaba
- Minalin
- Macabebe
- Sto. Tomas
Isabela
- Ilagan City
- Sto. Tomas
- Tumauini
- San Pablo
- Cabagan
- Sta. Maria
- Cauayan City
- San Mariano
Gordon commended the rescue teams and PRC volunteers for the organization's ongoing operations.
"We could have done more if we had more Red Cross 143 volunteers to help us. I am appealing to all 143 volunteers to report by text or email the situation on the ground,” said Gordon.
Meanwhile, Malacañang assured that response efforts from government agencies are timely and effective.
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