Super Typhoon Haiyan has brought widespread destruction to the Philippines, killing hundreds of people and destroying thousands of homes as it tracked across the Visayas region of central Philippines.
Last night, the Philippine Red Cross supported nearly one million people in 353 evacuation centres, and assessment, rescue and relief teams continue to evaluate the damage and support rescue efforts in affected communities.
The flood waters exceeded three metres in some affected communities, and caused structural damage to critical infrastructure. A clearer picture of the full impact of the storm will emerge over the coming hours and days, as rescuers and relief workers gain access to isolated communities.
Philippine Red Cross workers assessing damage.Haiyan is now continuing northwest across the South China sea and is expected to make landfall in central Viet Nam, in the same areas where thousands of people were left homeless recently following Typhoons Wutip and Nari.
Vietnam Red Cross staff helping people prepare for Typhoon Haiyan by protecting valuables underground. Photo shared on Twitter by @michaelannear, Red Cross representative in Vietnam.The Red Cross has a global network of trained disaster response experts and pre-positioned emergency supplies ready to send as needed. This includes the Canadian Red Cross field hospital, which is on stand-by at all times thanks to a partnership with the Government of Canada, as well as supplies and personnel.
We continue to encourage Canadians to donate to the Typhoon Haiyan Fund.