OUR beloved Philippines has once again been tested by the wrath of nature, with the landfall of Super Typhoon Yolanda (International name: Haiyan), which meteorologists say may be the strongest tropical cyclone to hit land anywhere in recorded history — even more intense and powerful than typhoon “Yoling” which caused massive death and destruction in the Philippines in 1970.
Yolanda plowed across the central Philippines on Friday, leaving widespread devastation. It had sustained winds of 315 kph (195 mph) and gusts as strong as 380 kph (235 mph). As of press time, more than four people have died, while at least 20 have reportedly drowned.
According to CNN, the super typhoon roared onto the country’s eastern island of Samar at 4:30am, flooding streets and knocking out power and communications in many areas of the region of Eastern Visayas, and then continued on to wreak havoc to other Philippine islands as it moved across the archipelago.
CNN reported further that Yolanda retained much of its force as it moved westward, with sustained winds of 295 kph (183 mph), which puts it well above the 252 kph (157 mph) threshold for a Category 5 hurricane — the highest category on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale.
According to meteorologists, Yolanda was maintaining super typhoon intensity throughout its passage over the Philippines. A super typhoon has surface winds that sustain speeds of more than 240 kph (149 mph) for at least a minute, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
This super typhoon was so large in diameter that, at one point, its clouds were affecting two-thirds of the country, which stretches more than 1,850 kilometers (1,150 miles). Tropical storm-force winds extended 240 kilometers from the typhoon’s center.
According to Philippine News Agency (PNA) via CNN: “Most of the fatalities sustained massive injuries in the head and upper part of the body, indicative that strong waves dashed them against hard objects.” PNA further reported that nine of the dead were minors.
Experts say that the casualty toll would soar, once aid workers get to the hardest-hit areas.
People in provinces across the country, especially those living in coastal areas, were warned about possible flash floods, landslides and a storm surge as high as 7 meters (23 feet).
As Balitang America reported, about a million people took shelter in 29 provinces in the storm’s path.
Hundreds of flights were cancelled. Sea travel was suspended in many areas, with more than 3,000 travelers were reportedly stranded in ports.
President Benigno S. Aquino III warned residents on Thursday of the very real danger: “We can mitigate and lessen its effects if we use the information available to prepare.”
PNoy said authorities had aircraft ready to respond and officials have provided relief supplies to areas that were expected to get hit.
Philippine officials say more than 12 million people could be at risk, kababayans from Bohol and Cebu, who have not even started the recovery process from the destruction brought by the recent 7.2- magnitude earthquake, that killed at least 222 people, injured nearly 1,000, and displaced about 350,000.
We can only imagine the tragedy and destruction that Yolanda would have caused, if it directly hit the populous Metro Manila. Ondoy was nothing compared to Yolanda.
One way we can help our kababayans back home is by donating to ABS-CBN Foundation Internatiional, who is currently accepting donations for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda and the recent earthquake.
Donations of checks or money orders can be sent to ABS-CBN Foundation International, at 150 Shoreline Drive, Redwood City, CA 94065. Direct deposits can be made to Wells Fargo bank account 303-618-6462 with ABA number 121-042-882.Contributions can also be made online at www.abscbnfoundation.org.
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Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
