Philippines a frequent target for killer storms
Typhoon Haiyan is likely to go down as the deadliest storm in the history of the Philippines — an island chain that has been hit by some of the biggest typhoons on record and suffers through more tropical cyclones each year, on average, than any other nation. Other killer storms that have hit the Philippines, and their death tolls, include:
• Tropical Storm Thelma, Nov. 2-7, 1991, 5,101.
•Typhoon Bopha, Dec. 3, 2012, 1,900.
• Typhoon Ike, Aug. 31-Sept. 4, 1984, 1,492.
• Typhoon Agnes, Nov. 3-6, 1984, 1,167
• Tropical Storm Washi, Dec. 16, 2011, 1,080.
• Typhoon Trix, Oct. 17-22, 1952, 995.
• Typhoon Amy, Dec. 9, 1951, 991.
• Typhoon Nina, Nov. 23-27, 1987, 979.
• Typhoon Fengshen, June 18-23, 2008, 938.
• Typhoon Angela, Oct. 30-Nov. 4, 1995, 882.
Pope asks prayers, ‘concrete aid’ for Filipinos
Pope Francis led tens of thousands of people at the Vatican in silent prayer Sunday for the victims of the Typhoon Haiyan. He told a crowd of pilgrims, tourists and Romans in St. Peter’s Square that he wanted to assure the people of the Philippines and surrounding region that he feels close to them.
He lamented the high toll of dead and the enormous damage, then requested silent prayer for “our brothers and sisters.” Francis also said: “let us try to get our concrete aid” to those suffering from the storm.
The Philippines has the largest number of Catholics in Asia, and Filipinos are one of Rome’s biggest immigrant communities.
Air Force officer says he ‘found strength’ to survive
Among the obstacles to providing relief to survivors of Typhoon Haiyan is the destruction of regional capital Tacloban’s airport, which was battered by wind gusts of up to 200 mph. Speaking to the International Business Times, Philippines Air Force Lt. Col. Fermin Carangan described how he watched as up to 40 of his men were swept away by huge waves as they sought shelter in an airport office. He said he then clung to a tree with a 7-year-old boy.
“In the next five hours we were in the sea buffeted by wind and strong rain. I kept on talking to the boy and giving him a pep talk because the boy was telling me he was tired and he wanted to sleep,” Carangan told the newspaper. “I think the boy saved my life because I found strength so that he can survive.”
Haiyan/Yolanda: Storm has more than one name
While the rest of the work knows the typhoon that hit the Philippines as Haiyan, Filipinos call it Yolanda. Why the difference? The World Meteorological Organization draws up a list of names each year for Pacific tropical cyclones, and assigns names as the storms form. But when they enter the Phlippines Region of Responsibility — a zone extending from Taiwan to Brunei and centered on the island nation — the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration assigns a local name. In this case, it was Yolanda.
Red Cross hotline can help track missing loved ones
The American Red Cross opened a call center Sunday to accept inquiries about people missing in Typhoon Haiyan. Inquiries about family members in the Philippines may be directed to 703-584-8761. Inquiries about U.S. citizens in the affected area should be directed to the U.S. State Department at 1-888-407-4747.
Obama says he’s ‘deeply saddened’ by typhoon’s havoc
President Barack Obama said Sunday that he and wife Michelle are “deeply saddened” by the deaths and damage caused by Typhoon Haiyan. Obama said the United States is providing “significant” humanitarian assistance and is prepared to further assist relief and recovery efforts.He praised the Philippine people for their “incredible resiliency.”
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