Typhoon Haiyan

[Medic Mike]

Typhoon of historic power slams Philippines, brings fears of 'catastrophic damage'

 

November 8, 2013 |Oliver Teves And Teresa Cerojano, The Associated Press

 

 

 

 

 

 

In this Thursday, Nov. 7, 2013 photo, residents living near the slopes of Mayon volcano are evacuated to public schools by police in anticipation of the powerful typhoon Haiyan that threatened Albay province and several provinces in central Philippines. The typhoon, one of the most powerful typhoons ever recorded, slammed into the Philippines early Friday, with one weather expert warning of catastrophic damage. (AP Photo/Nelson Salting)

MANILA, Philippines - One of the most powerful typhoons ever recorded slammed into the Philippines on Friday, setting off landslides, knocking out power in one entire province and cutting communications in the country's central region of island provinces. Two people had died.

Telephone lines appeared down as it was difficult to get through to the landfall site 650 kilometres (405 miles) southeast of Manila where Typhoon Haiyan slammed into the southern tip of Samar island before barrelling on to Leyte Island.

A villager was electrocuted in southern Surigao del Sur province and another was hit by tree felled by strong winds in central Cebu province, officials said.

Television images from Tacloban city on Leyte Island showed a street under knee-deep floodwater carrying debris that had been blown down by the fierce winds. Tin roofing sheets ripped from buildings were flying above the street.

Visibility was so poor that only the silhouette of a local reporter could be seen through the driving rain.

Weather officials said that Haiyan had sustained winds at 235 kilometres (147 miles) per hour, with gusts of 275 kph (170 mph) when it made landfall.

More than 125,000 people had been evacuated from towns and villages in the typhoon's path, which was to cut across the central Philippines, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said. Among them were thousands of residents of Bohol who had been camped in tents and other makeshift shelters after a magnitude 7.2 earthquake hit the island last month.

Southern Leyte Gov. Roger Mercado said 31,000 people were evacuated in his landslide-prone mountainous province before the super typhoon struck, knocking out power, setting off small landslides that blocked roads in rural areas, uprooting trees and ripping roofs off houses around his residence.

The dense clouds and heavy rains made the day seem almost as dark as night, he said.

"When you're faced with such a scenario, you can only pray, and pray and pray," Mercado told The Associated Press by telephone, adding that his town mayors have not called in to report any major damage.

"I hope that means they were spared and not the other way around," he said. "My worst fear is there will be many massive loss of lives and property."

The typhoon — the 24th serious storm to hit the Philippines this year — is forecast to barrel through the Philippines' central region Friday and Saturday before blowing toward the South China Sea over the weekend, heading toward Vietnam.

Jeff Masters, a former hurricane meteorologist who is meteorology director at the private firm Weather Underground, said the storm had been poised to be the strongest tropical cyclone ever recorded at landfall. He warned of "catastrophic damage."

But he said the Philippines might get a small break because the storm is so fast moving that flooding from heavy rains — usually the cause of most deaths from typhoons in the Philippines — may not be as bad.

Weather forecaster Gener Quitlong said the typhoon was not losing much of its strength because there is no large land mass to slow it down since the region is comprised of islands with no tall mountains.

Officials in Cebu province have shut down electric service to the northern part of the province to avoid electrocutions in case power pylons are toppled, said assistant regional civil defence chief Flor Gaviola.

President Benigno Aquino III assured the public of war-like preparations, with three C-130 air force cargo planes and 32 military helicopters and planes on standby, along with 20 navy ships.

__

Associated Press writers Jim Gomez in Manila, Philippines, and Seth Borenstein in Washington contributed to this report.

 

   

 

 

Edited November 8, 2013 by Medic Mike

[Medic Mike]

Super typhoon Haiyan slams into Philippines, at least three dead

 

Source: Reuters - Fri, 8 Nov 2013 08:47 AM

 

Author: Reuters

 

 

 

 

* Haiyan potentially strongest typhoon ever to make landfall

* Wind gust of about 300 kph (186 mph), whips up giant waves

* More than a million flee, take refuge in shelters (Adds death toll, detail; updates route)

By Manuel Mogato and Rosemarie Francisco

MANILA, Nov 8 (Reuters) - The strongest typhoon in the world this year and possibly the most powerful ever to hit land battered the Philippines on Friday, forcing more than a million people to flee, cutting power lines and blowing apart houses.

Haiyan, a category-5 super typhoon, scoured the northern tip of Cebu Province and headed west towards Boracay island, both of them tourist destinations, after lashing the central islands of Leyte and Samar with 275 kph (170 mph) wind gusts and 5-6 metre (15-19 ft) waves.

Three people were killed and seven injured, national disaster agency spokesman Rey Balido told a news briefing at the main army base in Manila. The death toll could rise as reports come in from stricken areas.

Power and communications in the three large island provinces of Samar, Leyte and Bohol were almost completely down but the government and telephone service providers promised to restore them within 24 hours.

Authorities warned that more than 12 million people were at risk, including residents of Cebu City, which has a population of about 2.5 million, and areas still reeling from a deadly 2011 storm and a 7.2-magnitude quake last month.

"The super typhoon likely made landfall with winds near 195 mph (313 kph). This makes Haiyan the strongest tropical cyclone on record to make landfall," said Jeff Masters, director of meteorology at U.S.-based Weather Underground.

Typhoons and cyclones of that magnitude can blow apart storm shelters with the pressure they create, which can suck walls out and blow roofs off buildings.

"Power is off all across the island and the streets are deserted," said

Lionel Dosdosa, an International Organization for Migration coordinator on Bohol island, the epicentre of an Oct. 15 earthquake that killed 222 people and displaced hundreds of thousands, said power was off and streets were deserted.

"It's dark and gloomy, alternating between drizzle and heavy rain," he said.

About a million people took shelter in 29 provinces, after President Benigno Aquino appealed to people in Haiyan's path to leave vulnerable areas, such as along river banks, coastal villages and mountain slopes.

"Our school is now packed with evacuees," an elementary school teacher in Southern Leyte who only gave her name as Feliza told a radio station. Leyte and Southern Leyte are about 630 km (390 miles) southeast of Manila.

 

NO POWER, PRAYERS

Roger Mercado, governor of Southern Leyte province, said no one should underestimate the storm.

"It is very powerful," Mercado told DZBB radio. "We lost power and all roads are impassable because of fallen trees. We just have to pray."

In Samar province, links with some towns and villages had been cut, officials said.

"The whole province has no power," Samar Governor Sharee Tan told Reuters by telephone. Fallen trees, toppled electric poles and other debris blocked roads, she said.

Authorities suspended ferry services and fishing and shut 13 airports. Nearly 450 domestic and eight international flights were suspended.

Schools, offices and shops in the central Philippines were closed, with hospitals, soldiers and emergency workers preparing for rescue operations. Twenty navy ships and various military aircraft including three C-130 cargo planes and helicopters were on standby.

The state weather bureau said Haiyan was expected to move past the Philippines on Saturday and out over the South China Sea, where it could become even stronger and threaten Vietnam or China.

The world's strongest recorded typhoon, cyclone or hurricane to make landfall was Hurricane Camille in 1969, which hit Mississippi with 305 kph (190 mph) winds, said Weather Underground's Masters.

An average of 20 typhoons hit the Philippines every year.

Last year, Typhoon Bopha flattened three coastal towns on Mindanao, killed 1,100 people and caused damage estimated at $1.04 billion.

Haiyan is the 24th such storm to hit the Philippines this year. (Additional reporting by Karen Lema and Erik dela Cruz; Editing by Jeremy Laurence and Robert Birsel)

 

Edited November 8, 2013 by Medic Mike

[Medic Mike]

Monster typhoon smashes Philippines

08:05, Nov 8 2013

 

 

 

One of the most powerful typhoons on record has slammed into the Philippines, setting off landslides, knocking out power in one province and cutting communications in island regions.

At least two people have died.

Telephone lines appeared down as it was difficult to get through to the landfall site 405 miles south east of Manila where Typhoon Haiyan roared into the southern tip of Samar island before barrelling on to Leyte Island.

A villager was electrocuted in southern Surigao del Sur province and another was hit by tree felled by strong winds in central Cebu province, officials said.

Television images from Tacloban city on Leyte Island showed a street under knee-deep floodwater carrying debris that had been blown down by the fierce winds. Tin roofing sheets ripped from buildings were flying above the street.

 

Story continues

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Visibility was so poor that only the silhouette of a local reporter could be seen through the driving rain.

 

Weather officials said that Haiyan had sustained winds at 147mph, with gusts of 170mph when it made landfall.

 

More than 125,000 people had been evacuated from towns and villages in the typhoon's path, which was to cut across the central Philippines, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said. Among them were thousands of residents of Bohol who had been camped in tents and other makeshift shelters after a magnitude 7.2 earthquake hit the island last month.

 

Southern Leyte governor Roger Mercado said 31,000 people were evacuated in his landslide-prone mountainous province before the super typhoon struck, knocking out power, setting off small landslides that blocked roads in rural areas, uprooting trees and ripping roofs off houses around his residence.

 

The dense clouds and heavy rains made the day seem almost as dark as night, he said.

 

"When you're faced with such a scenario, you can only pray, and pray and pray," Mr Mercado said by telephone, adding that his town mayors had not called in to report any major damage.

 

"I hope that means they were spared and not the other way around," he said. "My worst fear is there will be many massive loss of lives and property."

 

The typhoon - the 24th serious storm to hit the Philippines this year - is forecast to barrel through the Philippines' central region today and tomorrow before blowing towards the South China Sea over the weekend, heading towards Vietnam.

 

Jeff Masters, a former hurricane meteorologist who is meteorology director at the private firm Weather Underground, said the storm had been poised to be the strongest tropical cyclone recorded at landfall. He warned of "catastrophic damage".

 

But he said the Philippines might get a small break because the storm is so fast moving that flooding from heavy rains - usually the cause of most deaths from typhoons in the Philippines - may not be as bad.

 

Weather forecaster Gener Quitlong said the typhoon was not losing much of its strength because there is no large land mass to slow it down since the region is comprised of islands with no tall mountains.

 

Officials in Cebu province have shut down electric service to the northern part of the province to avoid electrocutions in case power pylons are toppled, said assistant regional civil defence chief Flor Gaviola.

 

President Benigno Aquino assured the public of war-like preparations, with three C-130 air force cargo planes and 32 military helicopters and planes on standby, along with 20 navy ships.

[Medic Mike]

_{Philippines hammered by powerful typhoonNearly 720,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes.}

 

_{Posted on 11/8/2013 5:42:00 AM by Associated Press}

 

_{The strongest typhoon this year slammed into the central Philippines on Friday, setting off landslides and knocking out power and communication lines in several provinces. At least four people died.
    
Huge, fast-paced Typhoon Haiyan raced across a string of islands from east to west (Samar, Leyte, Cebu and Panay) and lashed beach communities with over 200-kilometre per hour (124-mph) winds. Nearly 720,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes.
    
Due to cut-off communication, it was impossible to know the extent of casualties and damage. So far, two people were electrocuted in storm-related accidents, one person was killed by a fallen tree and another was struck by lightning, official reports said.
    
Southern Leyte Gov. Roger Mercado said the super typhoon triggered landslides that blocked roads, uprooted trees and ripped roofs off houses around his residence. The dense clouds and heavy rains made the day seem almost as dark as night, he said.
   
 ``When you're faced with such a scenario, you can only pray, and pray and pray,'' Mercado told The Associated Press by telephone, adding that his town mayors have not called in to report any major damage. ``I hope that means they were spared and not the other way around,'' he said. ``My worst fear is there will be many massive loss of lives and property.''
    
Weather officials said that Haiyan had sustained winds at 235 kph (147 mph), with gusts of 275 kph (170 mph) when it made landfall. That makes it the strongest typhoon this year, said Aldczar Aurelio of the government's weather bureau.}

 

 

Edited November 8, 2013 by Medic Mike

[Medic Mike]

World Vision concerned about vast destruction as Typhoon Haiyan sweeps through Philippines

 

 

 

Over 1,000 families living in coastal and low-lying areas have been evacuated to schools in Tacloban, Leyte.

MANILA, 8 November 2013 -- As Typhoon Haiyan continued to make its way west across the Philippines Friday, World Vision expressed concern that what was shaping up to be the Philippines' strongest typhoon of the year could leave a path of "vast destruction" in its wake.

"This storm was much stronger than Typhoon Bopha last year, and that storm killed more than 1,000 people and destroyed at least 216,000 homes," said Minnie Portales, Director for Public Engagement with World Vision in the Philippines. "As we wait for early reports from some of the hardest-hit provinces, we fear for the worst. This could be very bad."

As of 11 a.m. (GMT +5), World Vision has been unable to reach staff in Tacloban City, Leyte Province, Philippines. The storm cut a deep path through the province, and emergency officials are working to determine the extent of the damage.

According to local reports, storm surges of nearly 16 feet were reported, power is out, and the area is flooded. Landslides are a concern in the mountainous areas near the city as well.

Mary Ann Zamora, an Emergency Communications Officer with World Vision based in Cebu, Philippines said from her vantage point, "We could see billboards flying around like kites, and the wind was whistling through the trees. Rain continues to pound us here."

World Vision emergency staff are based throughout the country and are working closely with national and local government disaster response teams to assess the damage and begin a response as soon as possible. The biggest challenge for storm survivors will be emergency food and potable water. Rebuilding will also be difficult as much of the farm land has been destroyed in the storm.

Before Haiyan, the aid agency was still actively responding to last month's earthquake in Bohol, distributing relief supplies to 7,000 families.

This has been an active hurricane season for the region, and forecasters predict the Philippines may see another two or three major storms before the season ends in January.

Affected families need food, water, non-food and hygiene kits at the evacuation centers. The local government is trying to assist the immediate needs at the evacuation centers.

World Vision team will be dispatched to Eastern and Central Visayas to closely assess the impact rendered by Typhoon Haiyan.

World Vision is a child-focused humanitarian organization with 55 years of experience in the Philippines. World Vision currently assists around 33, 000 children in 18 Area Development Programs in 12 Visayan provinces.

 

Edited November 8, 2013 by Medic Mike

[Medic Mike]

Year's strongest typhoon lashes Philippines, kills 4 amid fears of massive damage

 

 

MANILA, Philippines - The strongest typhoon this year slammed into the central Philippines on Friday, setting off landslides and knocking out power and communication lines in several provinces. At least four people died.

Huge, fast-paced Typhoon Haiyan raced across a string of islands from east to west — Samar, Leyte, Cebu and Panay— and lashed beach communities with over 200 kilometre (125 mile) per hour winds. Nearly 720,000 people were forced to evacuate their homes.

Due to cut-off communications, it was impossible to know the full extent of casualties and damage. At least two people were electrocuted in storm-related accidents, one person was killed by a fallen tree and another was struck by lightning, official reports said.

Southern Leyte Gov. Roger Mercado said the super typhoon triggered landslides that blocked roads, uprooted trees and ripped roofs off houses around his residence.

The dense clouds and heavy rains made the day seem almost as dark as night, he said.

"When you're faced with such a scenario, you can only pray, and pray and pray," Mercado told The Associated Press by telephone, adding that mayors in the province had not called in to report any major damage.

"I hope that means they were spared and not the other way around," he said. "My worst fear is there will be massive loss of lives and property."

Weather officials said Haiyan had sustained winds of 235 kph (147 mph) with gusts of 275 kph (170 mph) when it made landfall. That makes it the strongest typhoon this year, said Aldczar Aurelio of the government's weather bureau.

Eduardo del Rosario, head of the disaster response agency, said a typhoon of similar strength that hit the Philippines in 1990 killed 508 people and left 246 missing, but this time authorities had taken pre-emptive evacuation and other measures to minimize casualties.

The Philippines, which is hit by about 20 typhoons and storms a year, has in recent years become more serious about preparations to reduce deaths. Public service announcements are more frequent as are warnings issued by the president and high-ranking officials, regularly carried on radio and TV and social networking sites.

Provincial governors and mayors have taken a hands-on approach during crises, supervising evacuations, inspecting shelters and efforts to stockpile food and relief supplies.

By 5 p.m. Friday, the typhoon — one of the strongest storms ever — was centred to the west of Aklan province on Panay Island, 320 kilometres (200 miles) south of Manila, after blasting the island resort of Boracay.

Forecasters said it was expected to move out over water south of Mindoro island Friday evening and into the South China Sea on Saturday, heading toward Vietnam.

Among the evacuees were thousands of residents of Bohol who had been camped in tents and other makeshift shelters after a magnitude-7.2 earthquake hit the island province last month.

Jeff Masters, a former hurricane meteorologist who is meteorology director at the private company Weather Underground, said the storm was poised to be the strongest tropical cyclone ever recorded at landfall. He warned of "catastrophic damage."

But he said the Philippines might get a small break because the storm is so fast moving that flooding from heavy rains — usually the cause of most deaths from typhoons in the Philippines — may not be as bad.

The U.S. Navy's Joint Typhoon Warning Center said shortly before the typhoon made landfall that its maximum sustained winds were 314 kph (195 mph), with gusts up to 379 kph (235 mph). Those measurements are different than local weather data because the U.S. Navy centre measures the average wind speed for 1 minute while local forecasters measure the average for 10 minutes.

Hurricane Camille, a powerful 1969 storm, had wind speeds that reached 305 kph (190 mph) at landfall in the United States, Masters said.

President Benigno Aquino III assured the public of war-like preparations, with three C-130 air force cargo planes and 32 military helicopters and planes on standby, along with 20 navy ships

Edited November 8, 2013 by Medic Mike

[Call me bubba]

althou this is not a news story post it does show the current storms location

 

 

http://www.wunderground.com/data/images/wp201331_sat_anim.gif

 

another site for info regarding this storm and future ones

http://typhoon2000.ph/

[Jake]

Hey guys,

 

Most of us have at the very least, basic first aid training, sound judgement and careful planning.  I am posing these 

questions, not to be unsympathetic with you guys going through moments of terror right now but it's really a question

to myself.  My question is.....do I have the will to survive?  Will I sacrifice my own life to save others?  

 

Even with my military background, it's a hard pill to swallow.  Perhaps in my 30's and 40's, I may still have that will to

survive anything.  However, at my age 63 taking meds for the rest of my life.....hell yeah!  I would gladly give up my

life to save the life of Judy and my children.  

 

Judy and I are praying for you guys.  Keep your head down and stock up on some cold San Magoo!

 

Sincerely -- Jake

[BrettGC]

Well just spoke to Aines (yes the Short Angry One does have a name), they're all home and safe again.  15 hours of no contact due to lines, towers etc being down but everyone is safe - unheard of since we've been together, such a relief to hear her voice.  Minimal flood damage to the house.  It seems Guihulngan was spared the worst of it.  I truly hope everyone else comes out of this as well as we have

 

Just to reply to you Jake, from personal experience, military conditioning included, it's something I never knew with certainty until the moment arrived.  Maybe a great subject for a thread where I can wax lyrical as I am sometimes wont to do?

 

Stay safe everyone.

 

Raising a bourbon to the gods of good luck and fortune as I type this.

Edited November 8, 2013 by BrettGC

[Michealusa]

Just wanted to add that my lady friend in masbate has been thru the worst part of the storm and all seems to be ok there except power outages, food shortage and  alot of roof damage. My prayers go out to them.

few pics she just sent me from her cell phone of earlier - her brothers house.