MANILA - Additional rescue equipment are being sent to help in the evacuation of residents affected by massive flooding and landslides in the provinces of northern and central Luzon.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief-of-Staff Victor Ibrado said several rescue equipment like helicopters and rubber boats will be brought to Northern Luzon Command for the rescue operations.

“Early this morning, nandito na ang helicopter natin ng Philippine Air Force. Aside from the equipment that has been in place here beforehand, meron pang darating dito na mga rubber boats from Manila, two assault crafts from the Special Forces, six rubber boats from the Navy, Marines, and we have three rubber boats also from the Philippine National Red Cross,” Ibrado said.

Ibrado said Chinook helicopters of the US military, two from Clark and two brought by a US cargo vessel, will assist in the rescue mission.
 
He added US forces will also be bringing with them 18 rubber boats.

“These are the additional equipment that are coming,” he said.

Ibrado said areas in eastern Pangasinan badly need help.

“Fourth, fifth and sixth districts--these are the municipalities starting with Villasis going to north and east of the province,” he said.

On Friday morning, the AFP dispatched helicopters from the Philippine Air Force to Nueva Ecija.

“They just don’t have the information kung anong nangyari doon,” he said.

Earlier reports said at least 100 villages in 22 municipalities and cities in Nueva Ecija remain flooded.

The Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council (PDCC) said the flooded areas were Gabaldon, Cuyapo, Guimba, Karanglan, General Natividad, San Leonardo, Rizal, Bongabon, Lupao, Licab, Sto. Domingo, Llanera, San Jose City, Pantabangan, San Isidro, Talavera, Zaragoza, Quezon, Allaga, Cabiao, Gapan City, Laur and Cabanatuan.

In Pampanga, 13 barangays in the town of Candaba are still flooded.

ABS-CBN’s Gracie Rutao reported that some of the affected residents have been evacuated in rescue operations by the Candaba Police Thursday.

In Arayat, Rutao said some 300 families affected by the landslide last September opted to stay at the Arayat National Park.

In Masantol, a baby girl was found dead Friday morning. The baby’s floating body was recovered near their house.

5 dead in La Union

Meanwhile, Mayor Pablo Ortega of San Fernando in La Union province reported five casualties and 1,500 evacuees.

Among the casualties were a father and his son who were pinned to death by a toppled tree, and a barangay captain and two of his relatives who were victims of a landslide.

Ortega added that flood waters have subsided making it easier for them to move around.

“Yung baha, bumaba na kaya nakaka move around na kami. We are trying to assess the damage and the number of casualties, tapos we are in full blast with our relief goods para matulungan po ang mga nasalanta,” Ortega said.

The local power provider in the province is still working to bring electricity back to La Union.

“Wala pa pong kuryente. I-che-check pa daw po. Nakakatakot naman na i-on nila yung kuryente tapos me naka submerge na bahay, baka po may makuryente,” the mayor said. With reports from ANC