South Korea to fly relief goods to Philippines

South Korea will fly two planes of relief goods to the typhoon-ravaged Philippines this week as part of assistance efforts, Yonhap news agency reported Wednesday. Two military planes carrying relief goods including food, blankets and hygiene products will head out Thursday morning and arrive in Tacloban -- the area hardest hit by the recent super typhoon -- around 3 p.m. (local time) the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. Seoul earlier this week had pledged US$5 million in aid and to send a 40-man team of rescue and medical workers to the country. The team will depart from South Korea early Friday, the ministry said. The super typhoon Haiyan pounded the central Philippines with strong winds and heavy rain on Friday. The death toll has reportedly reached 10,000. According to the South Korean Embassy in the Philippines, 23 South Koreans remain unaccounted for in the typhoon-affected area as of late Wednesday. The embassy said it is making efforts to find out their whereabouts.