Philippines fears massive death toll as Typhoon Haiyan wreaks havoc
Source: The Washington Post - Asia & Pacific
MANILA — A massive relief effort in the central Philippines was being hampered early Tuesday by the wreckage of one of the largest and deadliest storms of the century, a super typhoon that left trees splintered on the streets, bodies festering in open view and desperate towns short of food and water.
The destruction across a chain of Philippine islands leaves authorities with a relief operation both urgent and complicated, and of a scale exceeding any other in the history of this disaster-prone nation.
Rescue workers have reached many of the areas hit four days ago by Typhoon Haiyan, but others remain inaccessible. Pharmacies have been swept away and hospitals gutted. Looters have hauled away medical supplies, according to local media accounts. The half-dozen provinces hit most directly by Haiyan’s 150 mph winds still lack electricity or mobile connections. In some remote areas, relief can come only by boat or helicopter.
A clearer picture of the destruction came more fully into view early Tuesday as a wave of emergency workers reported conditions on the ground and the Philippine military provided aerial photos of towns ground into wood beams and rubble. Photos also showed survivors walking the streets, holding clothes against their noses to block the stench of bodies.
Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/philippines-fears-massive-death-toll-after-typhoon/2013/11/10/2bd314f4-49dd-11e3-b87a-e66bd9ff3537_story.html
Largest super-storm on record. 10,000 dead in Tacloban City alone. Hitting central Vietnam now with Tsunami-like waves. Global climate change is a liberal conspiracy.
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