China's Peace Ark ready to depart for Philippines

The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's hospital ship, the Peace Ark, is ready for a typhoon relief mission to the Philippines, a navy spokesperson said on Wednesday.

The hospital ship loaded with medicine and medical equipments arrived at the city of Zhoushan in east China's Zhejiang province on Wednesday morning, Liang Yang said.

The medical team consists of 93 medical workers from the Chinese PLA Navy General Hospital and another 12 experts from other military hospitals, Liang said, adding that most of the members have rich rescue experience.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hong Lei said that the ship will depart for the Philippines on Thursday.

The death toll from Typhoon Haiyan (local name Yolanda) stands at 4,011, the Philippine disaster agency said Wednesday. The number of those injured has risen to 18,557, while 1,602 people remained missing.