The path of Typhoon Haiyan. Image: Mormon News Room
In a storm that echoed a cross between a tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, Typhoon Haiyan ripped through Central Philippines on Friday. Tacloban, a city of roughly 200,000 was especially hard hit and the estimated death toll hovers around 10,000.
The New York Times reported huge walls of water detonated on land, flooding first floors of homes and businesses and encroaching on the second floors of some buildings. The surge swept away entire buildings, washed numerous people away and cleared vast areas of what were, at one time, Filipino establishments.
Due to a lack of connectivity in the area, the extent of the damage is currently unknown although other coastal areas may have been equally affected, according to a report from CNN. No exploration is possible as of now due to roads being devastated and, given their already poor quality, access is either extremely limited or impossible. Therefore, help is delayed and knowledge is minimal regarding damage to surrounding areas save for islands near Tacloban.
Samar Island was pounded by huge surf and roiling seas which devastated the area. An Australian man, Kevin Lee, drowned after attempting to surf the storm’s waves. His body was recovered Sunday, Australian time, according to Aussie publication The Age. He is survived by his Filipino wife, Josefina, and their newborn daughter, Michelle.
In the same article, the NYT reported that, “Valerie Amos, the [United Nation’s] top relief official, was en route to the Philippines to lead the international aid effort, which had already begun mobilizing on the ground. Ms. Amos, the under secretary general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, released $25 million from an emergency response fund to help pay for immediate priorities.”
Additionally, Waves for Water founder Jon Rose posted on the organization’s website that they are “mobilizing an urgent clean water disaster relief initiative,” as is standard for their disaster relief efforts. Rose goes on to state that, “Our initial goal…is to help mitigate some of the immediate suffering by providing victims with access to safe water. Then as we have boots on the ground and start to establish our local networks we will implement long term programs that can be managed and built upon, locally.”
This is a developing story. Stay tuned for updates.
