U.S. Troops Join Philippine Volcano Aid Effort
More than a dozen U.S. soldiers arrived here Saturday to distribute relief goods and set up tent shelters for some of the more than 66,000 people displaced by the recent Mayon volcano eruption.
The contingent, led by U.S. Navy Capt. Bob Harward, met with disaster relief officials in the central Philippine city of Legazpi to plan the distribution of $418,000 worth of goods donated by the U.S. government.
The relief goods, consisting of tents, mats and drinking water, were to be delivered today aboard a U.S. C-130 plane. About 20 American soldiers were accompanying the cargo and will help set up the tents in the town of Daraga, southeast of Manila, the capital.
Mayon began erupting Feb. 24, forcing tens of thousands of people in nearby villages to evacuate to school buildings.
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