Typhoon Haiyan, known in the Philippines asSuper Typhoon Yolanda, was an extremely powerful and catastrophictropical cyclone that is amongthe most powerful tropical cyclones ever recorded. Upon making landfall, Haiyan devastated portions of Southeast Asia, particularly thePhilippines during early November 2013.[1] It is one ofthe deadliest typhoons on record in the Philippines,[2] killing at least 6,300 people in the region of Visayas alone.[3] In terms of JTWC-estimated 1-minute sustained winds, Haiyan is tied withMeranti in2016 for being the second strongestlandfalling tropical cyclone on record, only behindGoni in2020. It was also the most intense and deadliest tropical cycloneworldwide in 2013.
ThePhilippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) estimated the average ten-minute sustained winds at 235 km/h (146 mph) and gusts up to 275 km/h (171 mph) at landfall overGuiuan, Eastern Samar. Haiyan continued to intensify; at 12:00 UTC on November 7, theJapan Meteorological Agency (JMA) upgraded the storm's maximum ten-minute sustained winds to a peak of 230 km/h (140 mph). TheHong Kong Observatory put the storm's maximum ten-minute sustained winds at 285 km/h (175 mph)[4] prior to landfall in the central Philippines, while theChina Meteorological Administration (CMA) estimated the maximum two-minute sustained winds at the time to be around 78 m/s or 280 km/h (170 mph). At the same time, the JTWC estimated the system's one-minute sustained winds at 315 km/h (195 mph), unofficially making Haiyan the strongest tropical cyclone ever observed based on wind speed, a record which would later be surpassed byHurricane Patricia in 2015 at 345 km/h (215 mph).[5]
Haiyan is also tied withMeranti in 2016,Goni in 2020 andSurigae in 2021 as the most intense tropical cyclone in theEastern Hemisphere by 1-minute sustained winds; several others have recorded lower central pressure readings. At 20:40UTC on November 7, the eye of the typhoon made its firstlandfall in the Philippines atGuiuan, Eastern Samar at peak strength. Gradually weakening, the storm made five additional landfalls in the country before emerging over theSouth China Sea. Turning northwestward, the typhoon eventually struck northernVietnam as a severe tropical storm on November 10. Haiyan was last noted as a tropical depression by the JMA on the following day.
The first warning noted for Haiyan was in November 3, when a storm warning arose in the Federated States of Micronesia, specifically in theChuuk Lagoon,Losap, andPoluwat, gradually expanding to other towns as well. Warnings rose for a second time in Micronesia, before being discontinued. In the Philippines, PAGASA raised Signal No. 1 on November 6, before the landfall of Haiyan. More provinces were included, until Signal No. 4, the highest warning, was raised. Other preparations were made, such as class suspensions and evacuations. In China, an emergency was declared in three provinces, causing vessels to be brought back to shore. In Vietnam, the highest emergency level was announced, causing thousands of people to be evacuated.
In Micronesia, heavy rains scattered in most of the places, causing one canoe house and three other houses to be destroyed. Other than houses, many trees were downed. In Palau, houses were also destroyed. Power outages were reported, with a total of 69 people being displaced. In Taiwan, eight people died due to strong waves. One person was also declared missing in Hong Kong. In Southern China, extensive flooding occurred, killing 30 people and destroying 900 homes. In Vietnam, heavy rains battered the country, killing 18 people and injuring 93.
The typhoon caused catastrophic destruction in theVisayas, particularly on the islands ofSamar andLeyte. According to UN officials, about 11 million people were affected and many were left homeless; many people are still missing as a result of this storm.[6]
Due to its extensive deaths and damage, the name Haiyan was retired in 2014 and replaced withBailu. It was first used in the2019 season.
Around 12:00 UTC on November 7, Haiyan attained ten-minute sustained winds of 230 km/h (140 mph) and a minimumcentral pressure of 895mbar (hPa; 26.43 inHg).[9] Six hours later, the JTWC estimated Haiyan to have attained one-minute sustained winds of 315 km/h (196 mph) and gusts up to 380 km/h (240 mph).[16] The storm displayed some characteristics of anannular tropical cyclone, though a strong convective band remained present along the western side of the system.[16]
Animated enhanced infrared satellite loop of Typhoon Haiyan from peak intensity to landfall in the Philippines
At 20:40 UTC on November 7, Haiyan madelandfall inGuiuan,Eastern Samar at peak intensity.[17] The JTWC's unofficial estimate of one-minute sustained winds of 305 km/h (190 mph) would, by that measure, make Haiyan the most powerful storm ever recorded to strike land. This record was later broken byTyphoon Goni in 2020.[18][19] Interaction with land caused a slight degradation of the storm's structure, though it remained an exceptionally-powerful storm when it struckTolosa, Leyte around 23:00 UTC.[20] The typhoon made four additional landfalls as it traversed the Visayas:[21]Daanbantayan andBantayan Island inCebu,Concepcion inIloilo, andBusuanga Island inPalawan.
Haiyan, with its core disrupted by land interaction with the Philippines, emerged over theSouth China Sea late on November 8.[22] Environmental conditions ahead of the storm soon became less favorable, as cool stable air began wrapping into the western side of the storm's circulation.[23] Continuing across the South China Sea, Haiyan turned more northwesterly late on November 9 and through November 10, as it moved around the southwestern edge of the subtropical ridge previously steering it westward.[24] Rapid weakening ensued as Haiyan approached its final landfall in Vietnam,[25] ultimately moving ashore in the country nearHaiphong around 21:00 UTC, as a severe tropical storm.[9] Once onshore, the storm quickly deteriorated and was last noted as it dissipated overGuangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, on November 11.[9]
Upon JTWC's declaration of Tropical Depression 31W on November 3, atropical storm warning was issued forChuuk Lagoon,Losap, andPoluwat in theFederated States of Micronesia. Further west,Faraulep,Satawal, andWoleai, were placed under atyphoon watch whileFananu andUlul were placed under atropical storm watch.[26] The following day, the tropical storm warning expanded to include Satawal while atyphoon warning was issued for Woleai.[27] Much ofYap State and the islands ofKoror andKayangel in Palau were placed under a typhoon watch.[28] The government issued a mandatory evacuation for Kayangel, and although most residents ignored the warning, they all survived the storm.[15] As Haiyan progressed westward, the easternmost advisories were gradually discontinued.[28] As Haiyan intensified into a typhoon on November 5, warnings were raised across Palau and Yap State.[29][30] Government offices inMelekeok were used as an evacuation building for Palau.[31] Despite mandatory evacuation orders, most residents on Kayangel remained on the island and rode out the typhoon.[15]
PSWS Map in the Philippines during the passage of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda)
Shortly before Haiyan entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility on November 6, PAGASA raisedPublic Storm Warning Signal (PSWS) No.1, the lowest of four levels, for much of theVisayas andMindanao.[32] As the storm continued to approach the country, warnings expanded intoLuzon and increased in severity for eastern areas.[33] By the evening of November 7, PSWS No. 4, the highest level of warning which indicates winds in excess of 185 km/h (115 mph) are expected, was raised forBiliran Island,Eastern Samar,Leyte, NorthernCebu,Metro Cebu,Samar, andSouthern Leyte.[34][35] Through November 8, the coverage of PSWS No. 4 continued to expand, with areas in southern Luzon being included.[36]
Officials placed police officers in theBicol Region ahead of the storm.[37] In the provinces ofSamar andLeyte, classes were canceled, and residents in flood- and landslide-prone areas were required to evacuate.[38] Some of the storm-threatened areas were affected by an earlierearthquake in Bohol.[39] Then-Philippine PresidentNoynoy Aquino requested the military to deploy planes and helicopters to the region expected to be affected.[40] As Haiyan was moving very fast,PAGASA issued warnings at different levels to about 60 of the 80 provinces, including the capitalMetro Manila.[41] On November 8, theInternational Charter on Space and Major Disasters was activated, providing widespread charitable satellite coverage to relief organizations.[42]
The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters hoisted a level three emergency response in the provinces ofHainan, Guangdong andGuangxi. All fishing vessels were urged to return to ports by noon on November 9.[43] TheHong Kong Observatory issued the Strong Monsoon Signal at 19:10 HKT on November 9,[44] and it was still in place on November 13.[45]
On November 8, Prime MinisterNguyễn Tấn Dũng activated the highest state of preparedness in the country.[46] Approximately 600,000 people across southern and central provinces were evacuated while a further 200,000 were evacuated in northern provinces. Alerts were sent to 85,328 seagoing vessels, with a collective crew of 385,372 people, to sail to safer waters away from the storm. Requests were sent to China, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines to aid any fishermen who needed immediate shelter from the typhoon.[47] Threatening Vietnam after two other typhoons,Wutip andNari, there were concerns that the storm would cause significant damage to homes with makeshift repairs.[48] Roughly 460,000 military personnel and other authorities were mobilized to assist in evacuation efforts.[47] Hundreds of flights were canceled across the country while schools were closed on November 11. On the small island ofCồn Cỏ, all residents were moved to underground shelters with enough supplies for several days.[49] TheInternational Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) branches in Vietnam prepared relief stockpiles, consisting of food, water, housing material, and₫6.6 billion (US$310,000) in funds.[47] The local United Nations Resident Coordinator, Pratibha Mehta, praised the government's actions and credited them with saving numerous lives.[46] However, there were complaints from many residents that the warnings came too late.[49]
As the storm brushed Eauripik, strong winds and heavy rain battered much of Micronesia. In Eauripik, one canoe house and three residential properties were damaged and banana and breadfruit trees were damaged. In Woleai, banana and breadfruit trees were damaged. In Ifalik, minor inundation at coastal areas and banana and breadfruit trees were damaged.[51]
On Kayangel in Palau, a highstorm surge damaged several houses,[31] while strong winds downed trees.[15] Despite residents' refusal to evacuate, no fatalities or major injuries took place on the island. Helicopters were flown to the island to survey the damage and provide relief supplies. The government planned to evacuate those who were left homeless from the island.[15] Koror,Babeldaob and Kayangel each lost access to water and power.[15] In Koror, winds reaching as high as 120 km/h (75 mph) blew out rooftops and downed trees and power lines. A causeway linking an offshore hospital to the main island was temporarily shut down after being inundated by water.[52] On the northern end of Babeldaob, Haiyan damaged schools and buildings.[31] Lying closest to Haiyan at the time of the typhoon's passage, Kayangel was flooded in its entirety, and all homes were destroyed. Though no people were killed there, 69 others were displaced by the storm.[52]
Typhoon Haiyan, called Yolanda in the Philippines, caused catastrophic damage throughout much of the islands ofLeyte, where cities and towns were largely destroyed.[63] By April 17, 2016, theNational Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) confirmed 6,300 fatalities across the country, 5,902 of those taking place in theEastern Visayas.[3] However, the true death toll remains unclear. Haiyan also caused 28,688 injuries, destroyed 550,928 houses and damaged 589,404 others.[3]
InSurigao City, 281.9 mm (11.10 in) of rainfall was recorded, much of which fell in under 12 hours.[64]Storm surges were also recorded in many places. In the island ofLeyte andSamar,PAGASA measured 5–6 m (16–20 ft) waves.[65] InTacloban,Leyte, the terminal building ofTacloban Airport was destroyed by a 5.2 m (17 ft) storm surge up to the height of the second story.[66] Along the airport, a storm surge of 4 m (13 ft) was estimated.[67] Waves of 4.6 m (15 ft) were also estimated.[68] On the western coast of Samar, the storm surge was not as significant.[69]
Haiyan's first landfall was at Guiuan in Eastern Samar, where the typhoon touched down at 4:40 am.[70][71] Nearly all structures in the township suffered at least partial damage, many of which were completely flattened.[72] For several days following Haiyan's first landfall, the damage situation in the fishing town remained unclear due to a lack of communication in and out of the area.[73] The damage could finally be assessed afterPhilippine Air Force staff arrived in Guiuan on November 10.[74] Prior to this, a local priest was able to take his motorbike from Guiuan to the cities of Catbalogan andCalbayog (also in Samar) armed with photos of the devastation, shot on his mobile phone.[75]
Weather radarreflectivity loop of Haiyan's landfall onLeyte Island.Tacloban was struck by the northern eyewall, the most powerful part of the storm; it obliterated much of the city.[76]
There was widespread devastation from the storm surge in Tacloban especially in San Jose, with many buildings being destroyed, trees knocked over or broken, and cars piled up.[68] The low-lying areas on the eastern side of Tacloban were hit the hardest, with some areas completely washed away. Flooding also extended for 1 km (0.62 mi) inland on the east coast of the province.[68] City administrator Tecson John Lim stated that roughly 90 percent of the city had been destroyed.[63] Journalists on the ground have described the devastation as, "off the scale, and apocalyptic".[77] Most families in Samar and Leyte lost some family members or relatives; families came in from outlying provinces looking for relatives, especially children, who may have been washed away.[78] The entire first floor of theTacloban City Convention Center, which was serving as an evacuation shelter, was submerged by storm surges. Many residents in the building were caught off-guard by the fast-rising waters and subsequently drowned or were injured in the building.[79]
Although wind speeds were extreme, the major cause of damage and loss of life appears to have been from the storm surge. The major focus of the devastation appears to have been on the east coast of Samar and Leyte, with a particular focus on Tacloban, because of its location between Samar and Leyte, and the large population in low-lying areas.[69] PhilippineDepartment of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)Secretary Mar Roxas said the scale of the relief operation that was now required was overwhelming, with some places described as a wasteland of mud and debris.[80]
Sebastian Rhodes Stampa, head of a UN disaster assessment coordination team, said there was "destruction on a massive scale" in Tacloban. "There are cars thrown like tumbleweeds and the streets are strewn with debris. The last time I saw something of this scale was in the aftermath of the [2004]Indian Ocean tsunami."[68] There was little communication in the city and no mobile phone coverage. Up the east coast of Leyte, there were numerous towns and villages that were completely cut off without any assistance. Large parts of Leyte and Samar were without power for weeks.[77]
The storm crossed theVisayas region for almost a day, causing widespread flooding. InCebu andBohol, struck by a magnitude 7.2earthquake two weeks before, cities were also severely devastated.[90] During the morning of November 8, media stations across the country were able to broadcast live the destruction of Haiyan. However, before the afternoon, all communications on theVisayas region failed. The Presidential Communications Department of PresidentBenigno Aquino III had difficulty contacting DILG SecretaryMar Roxas and Defense SecretaryVoltaire Gazmin in Tacloban to plan relief.[91] Widespread power interruptions, landslides, and flash floods were also reported. Major roads were blocked by trees, and impassable. 453 domestic and international airline flights were canceled. Some airports were also closed on November 8 and 9. Ferries were affected. Relief and rescue efforts were underway by November 9, but some places remained isolated and out of communication due to severe damage.[92]
Haiyan tossed up large car-sized boulders, the heaviest of them weighing 180 tons, onto Calicoan Island in Eastern Samar, of which a few were carried uphill 10 m (33 ft). This is considered the biggest weight ever moved during a tropical cyclone since record-keeping began.[93] NDRRMC finally confirmed a total of 6,300 deaths in the Philippines, and total damages were estimated atPH₱95.48 billion (US$2.2 billion).[3]
Along the coast ofGongliao District,New Taipei, 16 people were swept out to sea by three 8 m (26 ft) waves. After several hours of search and rescue, eight were hospitalized while the other eight drowned. This was considered the largest loss of life from waves in Taiwan in several years.[94] In May 2014, theTaiwan Keelung District Prosecutors Office [zh] confirmed that Typhoon Haiyan was responsible for eight deaths.[95] Agricultural damage inTainan were amounted toNT$400–500 million (US$13.5–16.9 million).[96]
Typhoon Haiyan reachedHainan Province, where severe damage took place and six people were killed in various incidents.[98] The hardest hit area wasQionghai, where roughly 3,500 people across 20 villages were isolated due to extensive flooding.[99]
30 people were killed, while direct economic losses in China amounted to¥4.58 billion (US$752 million).[50] An estimated 1.21 million people were affected, of whom 26,300 were evacuated. Two people died while four others went missing after a car fell off a flooded road into a river nearBeihai,Guangxi.[100] Losses throughout Guangxi amounted to ¥275 million (US$45.2 million).[98][101] Approximately 900 homes and 25,500 hectares of crops were destroyed, while 8,500 homes were damaged. Additionally, an estimated 3 million people were affected by the storm throughout Southern China.[102] A cargo ship broke moorings atSanya, Hainan on November 8;[103] three members of the crew drowned while four others went missing.[101]
Haiyan produced high winds and widespread heavy rainfall which affected northern Vietnam.[104] Rainfall totals of up to 461 mm (18.1 in) and wind gusts of up to 147 km/h (91 mph) were recorded.[104] Ten people were killed while they were preparing for Haiyan's landfall, while no one was killed after the system made landfall; however, 4 people are missing inQuảng Ninh Province.[104] In all, Haiyan killed 18 people, and left two missing with 93 others being injured.[105] Economic losses in Vietnam amounted to₫669 billion (US$31.67 million).[106]
Due to the catastrophic loss of life caused by the storm, the nameHaiyan was retired from its naming lists during the 2014 annual session of the ESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee, and was therefore replaced by the nameBailu.[115] The name was first used in the2019 season. PAGASA also announced that the nameYolanda would be stricken off the typhoon naming lists.[116][117] PAGASA chose the nameYasmin to replaceYolanda for the2017 season.
Map of damaged houses by municipality showing track of storm, from the United Nations, as of November 18, 2013
By November 11, the provinces of Aklan, Capiz, Cebu, Iloilo, Leyte, Palawan, and Samar were placed under astate of national calamity, allowing the government to use state funds for relief and rehabilitation and to control prices of basic goods.[118] Additionally, approximately ₱30.6 million (US$700,000) had been allocated in relief assistance by the NDRRMC. Local and national agencies deployed a collective 18,177 personnel, 844 vehicles, 44 seagoing vessels, and 31 aircraft for various operations.[3]CBCP also declared 8 days of mourning for victims of the typhoon on the same date.[119][120]
World Health Organization Representative in the Philippines Dr.Julie Hall noted that while many survivors requiring medical attention in the first week suffer from trauma and fractures, the concern shifts toward chronic conditions as the weeks pass. The WHO coordinated the massive international response to help the Philippine government meet the acute need for healthcare services in the affected areas.[121]
Animated satellite comparison of power outages across the Visayas following Typhoon Haiyan
Extreme damage to infrastructure throughout the region posed logistical problems that greatly slowed relief efforts. Though aid was flown into local airports, most of it remained there as roads remained closed.[122] According to estimates on November 13, only 20 percent of the affected population in Tacloban was receiving aid. With a lack of access to clean water, some residents dug up water pipes and boiled water from there in order to survive. Thousands of people sought to evacuate the city viaC-130 cargo planes, however, the slow process fueled further aggravation. Reports of escaped prisonersraping women in the city prompted a further urgency to evacuate. One resident was quoted as saying "Tacloban is a dead city."[63] Due to the lack of electricity, planes could only operate during daylight, further slowing the evacuations. At dawn on November 12, thousands of people broke through fences and rushed towards planes only to be forced back by police and military personnel. A similar incident occurred later that day as a U.S. cargo plane was landing.[123]
An aerial view ofGuiuan, the town where the typhoon made its first landfall
On November 14, a correspondent from theBBC reported Tacloban to be a "war zone", although the situation soon stabilized when the presence of government law enforcement was increased. Safety concerns prompted several relief agencies to back out of the operation, and some United Nations staff were pulled out for safety reasons. A message circulating among the agencies urged them to not go into Tacloban for this reason.[124] On the west coast of Leyte Island, residents inOrmoc were fearing that the focus on Tacloban would leave them without aid. Though not as hard hit, roughly 90 percent of the city was damaged or destroyed and supplies were running low. Hospitals in the city were either shut down or working at partial capacity, leaving many of the nearly 2,000 injured in the city without medical assistance. In nearbyBaybay, the lack of assistance fueled anger and incited looting for survival.[125]In the coastal community of Guiuan, which took the full brunt of the typhoon, Mayor Christopher Gonzalez is credited with saving countless lives after he incessantly urged residents to evacuate. He referred to the storm as "delubyo (deluge)", which roughly translates to Armageddon. Of the town's 45,000 residents, 87 died, 931 were injured, and 23 others were listed as missing. U.S. Navy Capt. Russell Hays, a medical officer, estimated that a storm of Haiyan's caliber could have killed as many as 4,500 in Guiuan alone had it not been for the mayor's efforts.[126]
Destruction inBasey, Samar after the typhoon passed over the town
On November 18, the government of the Philippines launched an online portal, called the Foreign Aid Transparency Hub (FaiTH), that provides the public with a transparent view of the funds and other aid received by the government from the international community.[127][128] To lead the management and rehabilitation efforts of the central provinces in the Philippines affected by Typhoon Haiyan, Philippines PresidentBenigno Aquino III appointedPanfilo Lacson as Typhoon Haiyan Rehabilitation Czar.[129]
Duringhis presidency in mid-2017,Rodrigo Duterte created the IATF-Yolanda—an inter-agency task force to monitor and implement the government's rehabilitation programs in Haiyan-affected areas—[130] later extending the agency's term until the end of his tenure.[131] With the assistance of the agency, theNational Housing Authority expedited the construction of housing units in the affected areas; around 148,000 of the 204,000 housing units for Haiyan survivors were completed by September 2021.[132]
Typhoon Haiyan knocked over Power Barge 103 ofNAPOCOR inEstancia, Iloilo causing anoil spill.[133][134][135][136] As a result of the typhoon, the government is planning to replantmangroves in coastal areas while preserving the remaining ones.[137] Affected residents were allowed to return to their homes by the Department of Health on December 7, 2013, after an air quality test found thatbenzene levels in affected areas reached near-zero parts per million. Earlier, residents were asked to evacuate affected areas as the benzene levels had reached unhealthy amounts.[138]
Throughout Tacloban, widespreadlooting took place in the days following Haiyan's passage. In some instances, relief trucks were attacked and had food stolen in the city. Two of the city's malls and numerous grocery stores were subjected to looting. A fuel depot in the city was guarded by armed police while 200 additional officers were dispatched to assist.[139]Security checkpoints had since been set up all over Tacloban and acurfew was imposed on residents to prevent more attacks.[140] Philippine military forces also prevented members of theNew People's Army from ambushing a relief convoy bound for Samar inMatnog, Sorsogon, killing two.[141] PresidentBenigno Aquino III considered declaringmartial law in hopes of restoring order in affected areas.[142][143]
The remains of a home destroyed by the storm in Tacloban
Looting intensified as slow recovery efforts forced residents to seek any means necessary to survive. Tacloban city administrator Tecson John Lim stated, "The looting is not criminality. It is self-preservation." TheChicago Tribune reported that some areas were on the brink of anarchy, thoughInterior SecretaryMar Roxas denied such claims.[63] Further complicating efforts to retain order was the lack of officers reporting for work. In Tacloban, only 100 of the city's 1,300 police personnel reported for duty.[123] InAlangalang, just west of Tacloban, eight people were crushed to death after the walls of a warehouse collapsed during a raid on a government rice stockpile. Approximately 33,000 bags of rice, each weighing 50 kg (110 lb), were stolen. Warehouses were also raided inJaro andPalo. Throughout Tacloban itself, people began looting from homes as stores had been completely emptied.[63]
Color coded map of Eastern Visayas showing the number of deaths caused by Typhoon Haiyan. More than 1,000 500-999 100-499 50-99 25-49 1-24 0
Condemnations of slow government action in the relief effort in response to the typhoon mounted days after the storm had passed. Media reports criticized the Aquino administration for apparent lack of preparation and coordination among government agencies in the aid operation.[144][145] Up until November 12, five days after the typhoon struck, survivors continued to struggle with basic necessities such as food, water, and shelter while remote towns inLeyte andSamar were yet to be reached by aid.[146] The Philippine government responded by saying that they have dealt with the tragedy "quite well" but the response had been slow due to the breakdown of the local governance in affected areas where officials and employees, who were usually the first to respond in these events, were victims of the typhoon themselves.[147] Cabinet SecretaryJose Rene Almendras said that the national government had to take over despite logistical challenges and assured it was working toward providing aid in the quickest way possible to the survivors.[148] The national Government was also criticized for putting the responsibility of handling the dead to theBureau of Fire Protection instead to the Department of Health. Dr. Racquel Fortun, one of the forensic experts to go to the area three days after the typhoon insisted that handling of the bodies is a health matter and therefore a responsibility of DOH.[149] Then mayor of Davao City,Rodrigo Duterte, who visited Tacloban, said dead bodies lay unattended for four days after Haiyan ravaged the city; tearily, he remarked "God must have been somewhere else" and said declaring a state of calamity was not sufficient.[150]
One of the biggest controversies of Typhoon Haiyan is probably the number of victims or the body count. According to the Philippine government sources, the number of those killed during the typhoon ranges from 4,000 to 6,000 individuals while some sources claim that the body count reaches up to 15,000. Rejecting the estimate death toll of at least 10,000, Aquino gave his own estimate at 2,000 to 5,000 three days after Haiyan struck.[151][152][153]
The Aquino administration was also criticized for its inefficient distribution of funds and several government officials were accused of embezzling the money allotted for the typhoon victims. Aquino's FAiTH online portal did not track foreign aid coursed through local government units and private organizations.[154]Mar Roxas, who served as Interior Secretary during the typhoon, likewise received criticism for his perceived silence on how the typhoon funds were spent.[155][156] As President Aquino III stepped down from office in June 2016, his administration failed to release₱20 billion housing assistance funds for the typhoon victims.[157]
The succeeding Duterte administration expressed dismay at the delays and backlogs in the government's housing program; some Haiyan survivors called on the administration to demolish substandard units and to probe deeper into the anomalies surrounding the resettlement projects.[158] In 2018, coinciding with the fifth year mark of the disaster, the survivors again protested against the government's slow response on rehabilitation efforts, displaying the caricature of PresidentRodrigo Duterte, who was theMayor of Davao City at the time of the disaster.[159] In November 2018, theNational Economic and Development Authority confirmed that the budget is under the 2016 "Yolanda" Recovery & Reconstruction Program that "remained untapped & were not released" until the expiration of the validity of the funds last December 31, 2017, during President Duterte's second year in office;[160] an environmental group criticized the Duterte administration's decision to divert₱5 billion funds for Haiyan housing torebuild war-tornMarawi.[161]
Mass graves of typhoon victims within thePalo Cathedral grounds
The Philippines faced a humanitarian crisis days after the typhoon hit much of theVisayas with 1.8 million homeless and more than 6,000,000 displaced.[162] InTacloban alone, ninety percent of the structures are either destroyed or damaged while other cities, such asOrmoc, are reporting similar damage.[163] The United Nations fears that the possibility of the spread of disease is high due to the lack of food, water, shelter, and medication. Casualties have been reported as a result of the lack of aid in affected areas and the number of dead is likely to rise.[164]
As a result of the damage in Tacloban and much ofLeyte, thousands of people who once lived in the area left and made their way into less affected areas such asCebu andManila.[165]Catbalogan reported that their population more than doubled after the typhoon with the influx of refugees into the city.[166] Around 20,000 people have fled toManila as a result of the storm.[167]
Typhoon Haiyan has been acknowledged as a sort of "trauma milestone" for mental health awareness in the Philippines – where Filipinos had previously seen counseling as an admission of weakness, it began to be acknowledged as "a sign of how extraordinary the circumstances are."[168]
Humanitarian aid of goods and logistics worth$1 million.Indonesian Red Cross sent 688,862 tonnes emergency supplies.
ThreeIndonesian Air ForceHercules aircraft deployed with supplies to affected areas. Logistical aid including aircraft, food, generators and medicine. TheIndonesian Red Cross deployed KM Emir cargo ship loaded with emergency supplies and also 30 Indonesian Red Cross volunteers.
100 tonnes of food and 70 tonnes of communication equipment.
In addition to the aid provided by the Norwegian government, Norwegians supported various aid agencies, such as the Norwegian Red Cross and the Norwegian branch of Save the Children, with donations through texting reaching 30 million NOK (US$4.9 million). On October 24, a relief concert with various Norwegian artists was held in Norway for the victims of the typhoon in the Philippines. During the 70-minute TV broadcast, Norwegians donated another 24.7 million NOK (US$4 million).
Humanitarian aid including Humanitarian teams and Relief goods(family tents, water purifiers, beef fried rice, blankets, and sanitation kits) turned over to DSWD.
Deployed Emergency relief team (two batches of medical and rescue personnel, 17-man survey team). Pledged USD 5M worth of assistance and US$20MODA for construction and rehabilitation from 2014 to 2016. Deployed 2C-130 planes,Bi Ro Bong LST andSung In Bong LST for humanitarian transport along with 520 members of theRepublic of Korea Army.
680 tons of relief supplies. Estimated total amount of donated relief materials and money reached US$12.3 million as of mid-December. Taiwan, byNavy andAir Force, is the first country delivering relief supplies to Philippines.[240]
A 35-person team organized by the Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corps arrived in the affected areas to provide free medical assistance.
DeployedHMS Daring andHMS Illustrious and Royal Air Force C-130J – stationed in Cebu delivering over 235,000 of aid – and Royal Air Force Boeing C-17 Globemaster III for Humanitarian Aid and Relief (HADR) efforts.
Debris littering the streets of Tacloban on November 14, nearly a week after the storm struck
The United Nations said it was going to increase critical relief operations as a result of the devastation caused by the typhoon. Its Manila office issued a statement that read, "Access remains a key challenge as some areas are still cut off from relief operations. Unknown numbers of survivors do not have basic necessities such as food, water, and medicines and remain inaccessible for relief operations, as roads, airports, and bridges were destroyed or covered in wreckage."[257] The United Nations also began relief operations by this time; however, the severe damage to infrastructure hampered efforts to distribute supplies.[139] The UN activated the Cluster System, in which groups of humanitarian organizations (UN and non-UN) work to restore health, shelter, nutrition and economic activity.[258]
TheWorld Health Organization, which leads the Health Cluster, the largest one, has developed guidance on donations of medicine and healthcare equipment so that the Philippines receives supplies appropriate for this emergency. According toWHO, many people suffered cuts, wounds, and broken bones during the disaster and others were injured in flooding that followed the typhoon.[259] Interpol announced that they would send in Interpol officers from Lyon to help local law enforcement identify any of the corpses that are unidentified.[260]
TheWorld Health Organization has spearheaded initiatives among help workers, especially from theDepartment of Health (Philippines), in extending Psychological First Aid to people in typhoon-affected areas. WHO Representative in the country DrJulie Hall foresees long-lasting effects from the typhoon. She calls for increased preparedness to give support to families and communities for the long-term, citing the need for more trained field workers.[261]
Devastation in the town ofBasey, Samar, where more than 300 individuals perished due to storm surge
American bandJourney donated $350,000 to help relief efforts in the Philippines, and its lead singer had a message for his homeland: "Don't Stop Believin'".Arnel Pineda (the band's Filipino vocalist) and the rest of the band announced the donation on November 15, 2013. It will go to the United Nations World Food Programme, which is providing Filipinos with food assistance. The donation should provide 1.4 million meals.[262]IKEA,Walmart,Samsung, andHSBC are among those taking advantage of the event to donate to those in need.[165][263]Northwestern Mutual announced they will donate $100,000 to theAmerican Red Cross.[264]The Coca-Cola Company says they have donated $2.5 million of their advertising budget to the relief efforts as of November 25.[265] By mid-December,FIFA donated $1 million.[266]DHL deployed its Asia Pacific Disaster Response Team to the disaster areas to provide on-the-ground logistics support to assist with the relief effort in the aftermath of the devastating Typhoon Haiyan. Three rotating teams made up of volunteer employees from the Asia Pacific region were based at the Mactan Cebu Airport on Cebu island, providing support and assistance to the country's most affected areas west of Leyte Island, including Guiuan, Roxas, and Tacloban.[267] Many smaller initiatives were founded as well – e.g. to prepare by donating to children a typhoon-ready backpack as a floating device.[268] Medical Doctors in global health likeEdmond Fernandes who worked in the service of the people of Philippines recalled that broken hearts and shattered dreams existed everywhere with widespread devastation.[269][270]
Sixteen-timeNBA ChampionsLos Angeles Lakers donated $150,000[271] to thePhilippine Red Cross to aid the typhoon-affected victims. During their home game against theMemphis Grizzlies,Kobe Bryant handed the check to the Junior NBA players representing the Philippines. His teammate,Pau Gasol, pledged to donate $1,000 per point to UNICEF[272] with the directive to help victims of Super Typhoon Haiyan in the country as well. He scored 24 points in a won game against theGolden State Warriors.Major League Baseball donated $200,000 toUNICEF and the American Red Cross, withCommissionerBud Selig encouraging fans to donate to the organizations.[273]UNICEF delivered portable toilets and hygiene supplies to the region and also appealed for $34 million to help the four million children affected.[274] The American Red Cross announced that they collected $11 million in donations for the Philippines Relief Fund.[275]Mercy Corps dispatched an "emergency response" team to help with humanitarian efforts.[276] MAP International launched medical relief efforts providing over $10 million in medicines and supplies to the Philippines.
U.S. Marines assisting in the Philippine disaster relief
Among the NGO responses, among the most comprehensive disaster response came from the Taiwan-based"Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation". Archived fromthe original on November 29, 2014., which organized a large-scale cash-for-work program in Tacloban from Nov 20 to Dec 8 with up to 31,000 participants per day, totaling nearly 300,000-day shifts. This operation not only helped clean out the thousands of tons of debris covering the city, but also kicked-started the local economy. Tzu Chi also contributed emergency cash aid of 8000, 12000 or 15000 pesos depending on family size for over 60,000 families in the affected areas of Tacloban, Ormoc, Palo, Tanauan and Tunga, and has been providing free clinics, hot meals, and temporary classrooms for over 15 schools in the area.Doctors Without Borders is sending 200 tons of aid.[255][277] TheInternational Society for Krishna Consciousness'sFood For Life Global, the world's largest vegan food relief organisation, raised money and provided vegan meals in the Philippines to Typhoon Haiyan survivors.[278][279] Other NGOs run by faith-based organisations that raised money and/or aided in the disaster relief efforts of Typhoon Haiyan includedCatholic Relief Services,[280] Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB),[280]Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA),[280] LDS Philanthropies,[281]American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (AJJDC),[280]Samaritan's Purse,[280]Salvation Army,[280]Christian Children's Fund of Canada,[280]MAP International andWorld Vision.[280] International Responders for Emergencies and Disasters endured the storm and despite losing equipment and personnel, they contributed to over $100,000 in aid and supplied rescuer workers for 3 months.[282]
TheIglesia ni Cristo (INC), the largest indigenous Christian church based in the Philippines held a series of massive relief distributions and medical and dental missions to affected populations of the storm to different parts ofVisayas.[283] The humanitarian mission was done under the"Lingap sa Mamamayan" (Aid for Humanity) project in cooperation with the Felix Y. Manalo (FYM) Foundation Inc., the INC's charitable arm.[284][285] The church conducted the largest walk for a cause in the world (walkathon) on February 15, 2014, dubbed as 'Iglesia ni Cristo World Wide Walk for Those Affected by Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan'.[286][287] The walk for a cause raised millions of money to help the victims of the super typhoon for the construction of their houses and shelters. The aim of the activity is to make the world understand that Haiyan survivors are still in dire need of help and financial assistance. Indeed, the worldwide walk caught the attention of the world when it broke twoGuinness world records as the largest charity walk in a single venue (Manila, Philippines) with 175,000 participants, and largest charity walk in 24 hours for multiple venues (fromChristchurch, New Zealand toHawaii, USA) in 13 time zones, 54 countries, 24 hours with 519,521 participants.[288][289]
Media reports initially noted the disparate aid responses by the United States and China against the backdrop of rising tensions between the Philippines and China over the two countries' competing territorial claims in the South China Sea.[306][307] Fox News initially criticized China for its contribution of US$100,000 cash each from the government and the Chinese Red Cross to the typhoon victims, which led to commentary about its disputes with the Philippines.[308] Earlier in 2013,the Philippines sued China over thenine-dash line. Western commentators attributed this low amount to China's intentions to isolate the Philippines while strengthening its ties with the rest of Southeast Asia.[309] The move elicited mixed reactions from the Chinese public and government with some commending its decision while others, such asGlobal Times, a tabloid newspaper of theChinese Communist Party, insisted that China should behave like a responsible power. China later increased its contributions by US$1.64 million[183][310] and sent its naval hospital shipPeace Ark for disaster relief.[184]
The island of Binuluanguan overflown by a helicopter from HMSDaring
As part of its relief operations named "Operation Damayan",[311] the United States gave the Philippines aid worth US$51.9 million and deployed the United States Marines, United States Navy and United States Air Force to assist with the humanitarian operations.[312] Amidstterritorial disputes with China in theSouth China Sea, the Philippine government under theAquino III administration saw the U.S. typhoon military assistance as an opportunity to allow deployment of U.S. military troops within the country.[313][314] A few months later, the Aquino administration signed with U.S. Ambassador to the PhilippinesPhilip Goldberg a 10-yearEnhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, a gift to U.S. PresidentBarack Obama.[315][313] An article in the journal Social Medicine said this was part of the "Asia pivot" that the United States government had previously announced, a foreign policy strategy it viewed as a plan to contain China, encircle it militarily, and prevent it from competing with American political influence in the region.[316]
Following Typhoon Haiyan's landfall in Vietnam, widespread search and rescue missions took place in the affected provinces. Damage assessments were also conducted in 13 provinces to determine what aid was needed. The IFRC began distribution of relief supplies and assisted residents in returning home by November 12. Operations regarding the aftermath of Typhoon Wutip were temporarily suspended due to Haiyan.[47]
Political leaders and climate scientistsconnected the typhoon toclimate change, both at the time and subsequently[317] and led to calls forclimate justice.[318] The2013 United Nations Climate Change Conference was coincidentally in progress when the typhoon struck and Yeb Saño, the lead negotiator of the Philippines delegation, received a standing ovation at the conference when he declared a hunger strike.
In solidarity with my countrymen who are struggling to find food back home, I will now commence a voluntary fasting for the climate; this means I will voluntarily refrain from eating food during thisCOP, until a meaningful outcome is in sight.
Several delegates, including American delegate Collin Reese, joined him in fasting. Sixty people fromClimate Action Network, anumbrella group of environmental non-governmental organisations, also joined the hunger strike.[320]
The correlation between the increasing intensity of storms and the progression of climate change was discussed by climate scientists. "Typhoons, hurricanes and all tropical storms draw their vast energy from the warmth of the sea. We know sea-surface temperatures are warming pretty much around the planet, so that's a pretty direct influence of climate change on the nature of the storm", saidWill Steffen, director of theAustralian National University climate change institute.[321]Myles Allen, head of the climate dynamics group at theUniversity of Oxford, said that "The current consensus is that climate change is not making the risk of hurricanes any greater, but there are physical arguments and evidence that there is a risk of more intense hurricanes."[321]The Huffington Post made the point that the 70%deforestation of the Philippines since 1900, as reported by the nationalForest Management Bureau, made far more lethal flooding from cyclones like Haiyan more likely.[322] TheIPCC Fifth Assessment Report had stated in September of the same year that "Time series of cyclone indices such as power dissipation, an aggregate compound of tropical cyclone frequency, duration, and intensity that measures total wind energy by tropical cyclones, show upward trends in the North Atlantic and weaker upward trends in the western North Pacific since the late 1970s."[321]
A detailed analysis of Typhoon Haiyan and its destruction in the Philippines was featured in a documentary calledMegastorm: World's Biggest Typhoon. It aired on December 30, 2013, onDiscovery Channel.[323]
The 2014 documentarySix Hours: Surviving Typhoon Yolanda, produced by Big Monster Entertainment and distributed byGRB Entertainment, also features the eyewitness account of the typhoon by GMA News reporter (now Frontline Pilipinas and Agripreneur host)Jiggy Manicad. The documentary also gives permission to Marnie Manicad Productions Inc.[324][325]
An episode of thePBS science documentary television programNova titled "Killer Typhoon", aired on January 22, 2014, features the typhoon.[326]
The 2015 drama filmTaklob, directed byBrillante Mendoza features the survivors in the aftermath of the typhoon.[327]
^TheJoint Typhoon Warning Center is a joint United States Navy – United States Air Force task force that issues tropical cyclone warnings for the western Pacific Ocean and other regions.[7]
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