Don’t call, just text

Rappler.com

DEVASTATION. Super Typhoon Yolanda knocked off power and communication lines in Tacloban. Photo by Rupert Ambil/Rappler

Up to 70% of cellular services in Tacloban City had been restored as of Monday afternoon, November 11, 3 days after Typhoon Yolanda (international codename: Haiyan) devastated Visayas. But Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras appealed to users not to call their loved ones, but to simply send text messages. Almendras said voice calls occupy a lot of bandwidth and network jams may be possible. With most communication lines down in the immediate aftermath of the typhoon, worried Filipinos used social media to look for their loved ones in the devastated areas. On Saturday, social welfare officials helped survivors gain access to social media so they could inform their families they were alright.

You can help Rappler map cell signals in areas affected by Yolanda. Please go to this page.

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