By Eric Leister, Meteorologist
November 11,2013; 2:12PM,EST
In the wake of once-Super Typhoon Haiyan (local name Yolanda), the death toll is estimated to rise to 10,000 across the Philippines.
A senior regional police official and a city administrator in the typhoon-ravaged Tacloban city in the central Philippines say the death toll there could reach 10,000 people as reported by the Associated Press.
The confirmed number of dead stands at 1,563 through Sunday evening according to the local government, with majority of the deaths caused by drowning and collapsed buildings. However, it is feared that the coastal cities will have even more casualties. With wires, trees and debris cutting off access to these areas, aid has been struggling to reach victims and unable to determine a final death toll.
Tacloban was "ground zero" for Haiyan's devastation, stated AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Eric Wanenchak. CNN reports that no building in Tacloban appeared to have escaped damage from Haiyan.
A
large boat sits on top of destroyed homes after it was washed ashore by
strong waves caused by Super Typhoon Haiyan, in Tacloban city, Leyte
province, central Philippines on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013. Super Typhoon
Haiyan, one of the strongest storms on record, slammed into six central
Philippine provinces Friday leaving a wide swath of destruction and
hundreds of people dead. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)There is more bad news for the Philippines as a tropical disturbance, perhaps becoming a tropical storm, will reach the nation during the middle of this week.
This tropical system will target some of the areas hit hardest by Haiyan with another round of heavy rainfall, further hindering the recovery efforts and those homeless following the deadly typhoon. Nearly 10 million Filipinos have been affected by the typhoon, the Philippines government said.
Friday morning, local time, an observation site in Guiuan, Philippines, measured the sustained winds at 96 mph, before the site was disabled. South of landfall point, Surigao City recorded over 10 inches of rainfall, much of which fell in under 12 hours.
Roxas City had sustained winds over 70 mph for several hours as Haiyan passed south of city Friday afternoon, local time.
This satellite image of Haiyan, courtesy of NOAA, was taken Saturday morning, local time.At its peak, the winds of Haiyan were equivalent to peak winds of the infamous Typhoon Tip, which was known for having the lowest sea-level pressure ever observed on Earth and its massive size.
The strength of Haiyan is now equal to that of a Category 1 hurricane in the Atlantic, according to the AccuWeather.com Hurricane Center.
An
aerial image taken from a Philippine Air Force helicopter shows the
devastation of the first landfall by typhoon Haiyan in Guiuan, on
Monday, Nov. 11, 2013. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)"Three other cyclones [Nari, Utor and Krosa] have crossed the Philippines at typhoon strength so far this year. All three tracked across Luzon, while Haiyan crossed through the central Philippines," stated Wanenchak.
Widespread torrential rain and destructive winds accompanied Haiyan through the central Philippines, leaving a trail of destruction and triggering life-threatening flash floods.
72-Hour Rain Totals as of 06z (1 a.m. EST / 2 p.m. PHT)
Haiyan-Ravaged Philippines Face Another Tropical Threat
How Typhoon Haiyan Became Year's Most Intense Storm
Detailed Forecast for Manila
Unfortunately areas that were devastated by a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake less than a month ago, were directly in the path of Haiyan on Friday.
The U.S. Department of Defense said it directed its Pacific Command is sending search and rescue and other resources to the damaged areas..
After slamming the Philippines, the storm is now targeting Vietnam and China.
A
child plays among debris in Tacloban city, Leyte province, central
Philippines on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)AccuWeather.com Meteorologists Alan Reppert, Kristina Pydynowski, Mike Doll, Dave Samuhel and Courtney Spamer contributed to this story.
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