With sustained winds of 195 mph (315 kph) and gusts as strong as 235 mph (380 kph), Haiyan may be the strongest tropical cyclone to hit land anywhere in recorded history. It will take further analysis after the storm passes to establish whether it is a record. The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale describes winds of 157 mph (252 kph) or higher as capable of causing catastrophic damage. A high percentage of framed homes will be destroyed, with total roof failure and wall collapse. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last for weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months. Haiyan was on a westward track when it raced into Samar traveling at 25 mph (41 kph), which meant the worst was over quickly. But the damage was severe. About 90% of the infrastructure and establishments were heavily damaged, Gwendolyn Pang, the secretary general of the Philippine National Red Cross, told CNNI. By early Saturday, the speed had dropped slightly, to 23 mph (37 kph). About 25 areas in the Philippines were hit, Pang said, adding that assessment teams were prepared to enter the stricken areas as soon as conditions allowed. But they cannot do it alone, she said: We will be definitely needing more support for this one. Floodwater was as high as 10 feet in some areas. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Earthquake survivors vulnerable Authorities warned of possible flash floods, landslides and a storm surge as high as 23 feet (7 meters). About 125,000 people nationwide were moved to evacuation centers. Among the most vulnerable were people living in tents on the central Philippine island of Bohol, where a 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit last month, killing at least 222 people, injuring nearly 1,000 and displacing about 350,000, according to authorities. On Friday, they got a second jolt -- this time from the typhoons winds and rain, but they were spared a direct hit. For the past three weeks, people are still experiencing aftershocks, said Aaron Aspi, a communications specialist in Bohol for World Vision. And at the same time, these rains are giving them a really hard time. Aspi said that despite living in drenched tents, many people were afraid to move to sturdier structures because of the aftershocks.
Posted on: Sat, 09 Nov 2013 00:04:22 +0000