Friday, November 22, 2013

Typhoon Haiyan: Death toll tops 5,200 two weeks after storm smashed Philippines

Alexander Smith at NBC News: The death toll from super typhoon Haiyan, which smashed into the Philippines two weeks ago, has passed 5,200, an official said Friday.

The number of people killed by what was one of the most powerful storms ever to make landfall now stands at 5,209, Major Reynaldo Balido, spokesman for the Philippines National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), told NBC News.

Just days ago, she had the usual concerns of being 20 -- college studies and Facebook. After Typhoon Haiyan, Queennie Lucio focuses on helping her family find enough food, water, and maybe even hope, among the rubble.

He said more than 23,000 had been injured and 1,611 were still missing across islands devastated by Haiyan, which is known as Yolanda in the Philippines.

Asked how the relief effort was going, Balido said: “We have been doing better. We are starting to reach all the people in need, especially in Samar," referring to one of the worst affected islands. “Right now we are on our third round of distributing relief," he added....

Satellite image of the Philippines, from NASA

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