Storm Haiyan (Yolanda) Update: Philippine Fatalities Double to 100 People in Leyte Alone
As correctly predicted by experts on Friday, the death toll in the aftermath of super storm Haiyan (Yolanda) battering the Philippines rose by Saturday noon to at least 100 just from the province of Leyte alone.
ABC-CBN quoted John Andrews, deputy director general of the Civilian Aviation Authority of the Philippines, who cited a radio message from the airport manager in Tacloban that more than 100 corpses are lying on the streets, while another 100 plus residents are injured.
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It is the same central Philippines province where GMA news reporters Jiggy Manicad and Love Anover reported personally seeing more than 50 dead bodies on streets and in the church, dramatically boosting the number of fatalities from the official count of 3 dead people by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.
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Because the province was one of the worst hit by mega typhoon Haiyan, which packed winds of 315 kph and is the equivalent of a Category 5 Hurricane, Tacloban officials are seeking medical and relief assistance from the national government, Mr Andrews said.
Cabinet Secretary Rene Almendras assured Tacloban residents on Saturday morning that relief goods are on the way aboard a military plane with Social Welfare and Development Secretary Dinky Soliman and Executive Director Eduardo del Rosario aboard.
As of 1:30 pm, the destructive Yolanda has left the Philippine Area of Responsibility and all storm signals were lifted. Metro Manila was spared from the rage of Haiyan and is enjoying sunny weather.
However, central Philippines would begin the difficult task of rebuilding homes and infrastructure damaged by the strongest typhoon in 2013, while search and rescue operations would search for more victims and the death toll would surely still go up further in the next few days.