Typhoon Torn Philippines Starting Mass Burials

Typhoon Torn Philippines Starting Mass Burials

Typhoon Haiyan left nearly half a million people displaced in one of the worst natural disasters that struck the Philippines in history. Mass burials have been undertaken in Tacloban City, one of the most affected cities in the region.

Unidentified bodies have been buried by workers in a hillside location as authorities and volunteers alike are struggling to prevent disease in the shattered region. Dozens more bodies lie in bags right outside the City Hall as humanitarian relief is just starting to reach the 500,000 people that have been affected by the typhoon.

Teams are clearing roads while thousands of people are flocking to airports and impromptu medical centers to either leave the zone or receive medical treatment. The USS George Washington aircraft carrier arrived near the coast of Samar Island and is providing medical assistance as well as fresh water while lending the 23 helicopters on deck to assists rescue efforts in more remote regions.

Philippine authorities have released a death toll of 2,357 people, but have also announced that the figure is expected to be much higher as rescue efforts are still well under way.

Other U.S. vessels, aircraft and supply ships are in the area or have left for the Philippines carrying much needed relief supplies as well as temporary shelter units and clean water. It is estimated that nearly 11.5 million people in the Philippines were affected by the Haiyan Typhoon.

Posted by James Fried on Friday November 15 2013, 6:37 PM EST. Ref: nzherald. Link. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News, World. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0