Three days after the world’s most powerful typhoon hit the Philippines, thousands lay dead on the streets of Tacloban City and nearby areas, government has yet to determine the extent and magnitude of the damage, and frenzied mobs looted homes, stores and even aid convoys. At least 5 provinces in Western Visayas have declared a state of calamity, allowing them to spend emergency funds to rehabilitate their areas. Initial reports showed at least 9.5 million have been affected by the super typhoon that one senior police official said might have killed 10,000 people in Tacloban City alone, an estimate that President Benigno Aquino III dismissed as premature. Most towns in Leyte and Eastern Samar remain isolated and could only be reached via helicopters or boats, making it difficult for relief goods to reach starving typhoon victims.
Read all Yolanda-related stories on Rappler.
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.