2,000 'Yolanda' victims from Tacloban flown to Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines - Hundreds of people affected by super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in Eastern Visayas have been evacuated to Manila as C-130 cargo planes continue to bring in the refugees for the second day, the Philippine Air Force (PAF) said Friday.

PAF spokesperson said that Col. Miguel Okol said that around 2,000 evacuees have been flown to Metro Manila from the typhoon-ht region, particularly in Tacloban City.

The PAF started transporting typhoon victims to Metro Manila through the Villamor Airbase in Pasay City on Thursday.

The typhoon victims included the elderly, children and families who have lost their homes after the strongest typhoon to hit the country this year pounded their communities with its record winds that pushed meters of seawaters inland.

At the Villamor Airbase, the typhoon victims are processed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and volunteer groups and foundations as they are provided with medical treatment, food and water.

Glenda Derla, assistant leader of the DSWD NCR team deployed in the airport, told philstar.com that the typhoon victims who have nowhere to go for now will stay inside the DSWD shelter at the Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital.

She assured that the needs of the Yolanda victims will be addressed.

Okol of the PAF public information office said that there are five more C-130 flights expected today.

"The C-130 flight would be carrying an average of 100 (persons). Tuloy-tuloy po ito sa araw na ito," he said in phone interview.