Over 400 Filipinos from virus-hit cruise ship en route to PH

MANILA, Philippines — Over 400 Filipinos who were evacuated from the coronavirus-hit MV Diamond Princess have finally boarded a flight going to the Philippines, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Tuesday.

In a tweet, DFA Undersecretary Brigido Dulay said 309 Filipinos, the first batch of Filipino repatriates,  boarded a Philippine Airlines flight that took off from Haneda Airport in Japan.

First PAL flight carrying 309 Filipinos from Diamond Princess has just taken off from Haneda Airport. pic.twitter.com/HYCOjQK3DG

— Dodo Dulay (@dododulay) February 25, 2020

Meanwhile, the second batch — consisting of 109 Filipino repatriates —  boarded another flight going to Manila, Dulay said.

Two DFA officers and five members of the Department of Health medical team, who assisted in the repatriation, joined the second batch of repatriates.

In another statement, DFA said the first batch of Filipinos was expected to arrive in the Philippines before 9 p.m. while the second batch will arrive at midnight.

Earlier, the government sent two chartered planes to repatriate over 400 Filipino crewmen and passengers who were stranded at the quarantined ship that docked at Yokohama port.

/atm