Case studies- Typhoon haiyan

The storm originated south-east of Micronesia, in the west of the Pacific Ocean. It developed a central eye and became a typhoon on 5th November 2013.

• The storm tracked north-west towards South East Asia.
• It developed into a super typhoon just before it made landfall in the Philippines on Friday 8th November 2013, as a category five equivalent typhoon.
• It then continued across the South China Sea to Vietnam. The typhoon was travelling at approximately 230 km/hour (with gusts of up to 375 km/hour) when it hit the Philippines.
• Lowest pressure - 895 millibars.
• Typhoon Haiyan measured 425 km in diameter - roughly the width of southern England.

What caused the typhoon

• Deep ocean water above 27°C in temperature.
• Warm, moist air that after rising, cooled and condensed to produce a band of especially heavy rain.

• 11.5 million people were affected by Typhoon Haiyan.

• Over 10,000 people lost their lives.

• 600,000 people were displaced.

• 130,074 houses were destroyed.

• The Philippine government estimated that about 175,000 acres of farmland were affected. Many coconut plantations were also destroyed. Coconuts account for nearly half the Philippines agricultural exports and the country is the world's biggest producer of coconut oil.

• Many cities were devastated and left without clean water, electricity, or food. Some survivors began to loot abandoned houses and shops. Tacloban was one of the most damaged cities, with 90% of its structures destroyed or damaged.

• In coastal regions waves up to 15 metres high swept through built-up areas. Water supplies were polluted bringing diseases such as cholera.

• Internationsl government and aid agencies respnded quickly with food aid, water and temporary shelters

• US aircraft carries and helicopters assited with search and rescue and the delivery aid.

• UK government sent shelter kits, each one able to provide emergancy shelter for  family.

• French, Belgian and Israeli field hospitals set up to help the injured.

• The Phillippines Red Cross delivered basic food aid, which included rice, cannnd food, sugar, salt and cooking oil.

• The UN and countired including the UK, Austrailia, Japan and the US donated financial ain, supplies and medical support.

• Rebuilding of roads, bridges and aiport facilities.

• 'Cash for work' prorammes - people paid to help clear debris and rebuild the city.

• Foreign donors, including the US, Austrailia and the EU, supported new livehood opportunities.

• Rice farming and fishing quickly re-established.

• Aid agencies such as Oxfam supported the replacement of fishing boats - a vital source of income.

• Thousands of homes have been built away from areas at risk from flooding.

• More cylclone shelters built to accomodate people avacuated from coastal areas.

Secondary

• 14 million people affected, many left homeless.
• 6 million people lost their source of income.
• Flooding caused landslides and blocked roads, cutting off aid to remote communities.
• Power supplies in some areas cut off for a month.
• Ferry services and airline fights disrupted for weeks, slowing down aid efforts.
• Shortages of water, food and shelter affected many people, leading to outbrkes of disease.
• Hospitals, schools and shops destroyed or damaged, affecting people's livelihoods and education.
• Looting and violence broke out in many affected areas, prticularly Tacloban.

Primary

• 6300 people were killed. Most drowned from the 5m high storm surge.
• Over 600,000 people were displaced and 40,000 homes were destroyed or damaged.
• 90% of the city of Tacloban was destroyed and left in ruin. 
• Tacloban airport was badly damaged.
• The Typhoon destroyed 30,000 fishing boats.
• Strong winds damaged buildings and power lines and destroyed crops.
• Over 400mm of rain caused widespread flooding.