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Three S'porean students in typhoon-hit Philippine city now safe in Manila: MFA

SINGAPORE — The three Singaporean students, who were earlier uncontactable in the typhoon-devastated city of Tacloban in the Philippines, have arrived safely in Manila and were met by the staff from the Singapore embassy, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) this evening (Nov 11).

SINGAPORE — The three Singaporean students, who were earlier uncontactable in the typhoon-devastated city of Tacloban in the Philippines, have arrived safely in Manila and were met by the staff from the Singapore embassy, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) this evening (Nov 11). "We hope to reunite the girls with their families as soon as possible," said an MFA spokesperson in response to media queries, adding that the ministry has been closely monitoring the situation in the Philippines in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan and is working closely with the relevant authorities and volunteer groups. Ms Eileen Heng, Ms Alyssa Chee and Ms Vanessa Chong, all 23, were on a one-month volunteering project in Tacloban. They were staying with host families and working as volunteer dietitians, and were due to return home on Nov 16. However, the trio could not be contacted over the weekend, in the aftermath of one of the most powerful typhoons ever to make landfall. Earlier today, two of the students contacted their family to report that they are safe. Ms Chee's mother Lisa Ng told Channel NewsAsia that she also heard from her daughter. "Alyssa called me, I think it was somewhere at the airport. The wind was very strong, and her voice was quite hoarse. I couldn't hear what she said but I know she is coming back so I'm relaxed now," she said. Ms Amelia Chong, the sister of Ms Vanessa Chong, said that her family has “finally heard from my dearest sister Vanessa”. She wrote on her Facebook page that “my dearest sister Vanessa Chong has finally called mommy and she is ALIVE and safe in one piece”. “She is now in Tacloban Airport and is safe with the Singapore Civil Defence Force,” said Ms Amelia Chong. Prior to receiving a call from her sister, Ms Amelia Chong had raised concerns this afternoon after the trio’s school, Flinders University in Australia, said the three students were found and safe. She had said that nobody has been able to contact any of the Singaporeans, calling Flinders’ statement “not first hand information”. The university’s statement said that “Flinders University is delighted that the three Flinders students who were in the typhoon-affected area of the Philippines have been found safe and well. “We have been in regular contact with the families of the three students over the weekend. The University is investigating options to expedite the return of the students to their families in Singapore as soon as possible.” The university later added that two initial reports of the safety of Flinders three’ students were posted on Facebook by, or on behalf of, the non-government organisation, Volunteers for Visayans (VFV), with whom the students were working for. “Subsequently, the University has had a further indirect confirmation via a person who had been in Tacloban and had seen the three students,” said the university. Updated at 9pm on Nov 11, 2013: This story has been updated to include the latest update from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that all three Singaporean students arrived in Manila safely.

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