Russia will send a team of 200 rescuers to the Philippines, stricken by a devastating typhoon, if a formal request is made, a spokesperson for the Emergency Situations Ministry said Sunday.
Six planes, including four Il-76 heavy transport planes, are preparing to fly to the Philippines. Six canine teams could be also deployed to assist operations in collapsed buildings, the spokesperson said.
According to Russia's Foreign Ministry and the federal agency for tourism, up to 150 Russian citizens may have been affected by the typhoon, which is believed to have killed at least 10,000 people on the hardest-hit Leyte Island.
Super typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest typhoons on record, swept across the Philippines on Friday, devastating towns and cities. The typhoon now is moving towards Vietnam.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
