100 more Marines and sailors, carrier Washington sent to help Philippines

WASHINGTON — One hundred additional U.S. Marines and sailors flew to the Philippines on Monday as part of a growing international effort to help survivors of one of the largest Pacific storms on record.

Rescuers are still in the early stages of reaching remote areas devastated by Typhoon Haiyan, which officials say may have killed thousands of people as it lashed the island chain with winds of more than 200 mph and widespread flooding.

Two U.S. military cargo planes carrying water and generators, along with a squad of Marines, left Manila for the hard-hit city of Tacloban on the island of Leyte.

In a sign that the U.S. is significantly ramping up its response, the aircraft carrier George Washington will be moved to the Philippines to assist with the growing effort to aid victims, two senior Navy officials said. They requested anonymity because the deployment had not yet been publicly announced.

The carrier “is preparing to deploy from Hong Kong, where they are on a port visit, to the Philippines to assist with relief efforts,” one of the officials said.

The official said the specific tasks the carrier would perform were still being worked out.