Background information
Typhoon Haiyan, possible the strongest storm ever to be recorded in history, devastated the Philippines on Friday, Nov. 8. The storm left damage all across the country, hitting some places more severely than others. Resultantly, tens of thousands of people are displaced. Over five-thousand people died. And then there are still dozens of people missing.
The typhoon, which has been given the name Yolanda in the Philippines, sustained winds up to 400km/h. Thus, it is stronger than a category 5 hurricane.
Even though authorities had warned and evacuated 700,000 people to Red Cross shelters. However, not even emergency shelters proved match for the storm. Red Cross Chairman Richard Gordon says: "People have died in these emergency shelters as well, sadly enough." Considering the fact that the storm was 3.5 times as fierce than Hurricane Katrina, which hit the United States in 2005.
At about 5 a.m. in the morning the storm hit land in the eastern Philippines. Still, it wasn't the 380 km/h wind gusts that did the damage. A devastating five meter high 'wall of ocean'. This flood crushed the city of Tacloban, which was most severely hit. Locals say: "We are not afraid of the storms. They happen all the time. However, it's the flood that gave us all this damage." In minutes, even seconds, families were torn apart are houses were washed away.
Contrary, when the storm had moved on, it wasn't like the danger was over. Water was rushing through the streets, ruining everything that had survived the storm. People were taken by the water, to never be seen again.
When the water had subsided, the awful waiting began. The survivors were left with the leftovers of what had once been a thriving city. Some had no family left. Most importantly yet, there was no food left. And as there was no internet connection whatsoever, all there was to do was wait. Everything is covered by dirt and debris. There was no connection with the outside world. With bodies everywhere on the streets, the smell was unbearable. The city of Tacloban was completely cut off.
It took five days for the first aid to come. People had gone all that time without food, in a devastated landscape. Food and water could finally be provided. It remains very important that the sanitary situation is improved as the bodies and debris could lead to a wave of disease.
Still, many people are missing and it is extremely important that the Philippines, a country made up of countless islands all severely damaged, is rebuilt.