Typhoon Haiyan devastates Philippines; 1200 feared dead

Typhoon Haiyan

Super typhoon Haiyan struck central Philippines, hitting island after island leaving hundreds of people dead in the streets.

The death toll was recently estimated at 1,200, higher than earlier accounts of 1,000.

Injured and hungry people began making their way to Manila airport seeking food, medicine and basic survival supplies.

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The impact of Haiyan, known in the Philippines as Yolanda, was so so strong that the airport terminal was completely destroyed with power lines, phone lines, and mobile towers being affected.

The typhoon first hit the country’s eastern island of Samar at 4:30 a.m. Friday with sustained winds of 147 mph with gusts of 170 mph.

Forty minutes before landfall, Guiuan, Eastern Samar Island reportedly sustained 10-minute average winds gusts up to 235 mph.

Some islands including Guiuan  have been unreachable by aid workers.

Initially classified as a deadly Category 5 storm, by Saturday the Typhoon was no longer classified as super.

CNN estimates that the force of the super typhoon that his the Philippines was 3.5 times more powerful than hurricane Katrina which devastated New Orleans in 2005, killing nearly 2,000 people.

Only 3 weeks ago, a strong 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit the Philippines killing more than 150 people and destroying more than 50,000 homes.

Relief efforts in  the US are already underway:

• The National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) is holding a series of community events to raise money for victims, including a concert in Alexandria, Virginia, near Washington.
• Unicef is accepting donations to provide relief and assistance.

Also, Secretary of State John Kerry pledged US assistance including military aircraft to help in relief efforts.

It is estimated that in addition to the death toll that hundreds of thousands of people have lost their homes.

Typhoon Haiyan is expected to pick up speed as the storm makes it’s way towards Vietnam.

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• Typhoon Haiyan kills up to 1,200 in Philippines: report
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