Philippines suffered “apocalyptic destruction”
An Australian aid worker on the ground in Cebu in the Philippines has described the scene following super typhoon Haiyan as one of “apocalyptic destruction”.
There are fears the death toll from the typhoon that has destroyed entire towns could soar well over 10,000, making it the country’s worst recorded natural disaster.
The typhoon sent tsunami-like waves and merciless winds rampaging across a huge chunk of the archipelago on Friday.
Sandra Bulling from Care Australia described scenes of utter devastation.
“It’s a mess of apocalyptic destruction,” she told Fairfax radio on Monday.
READ MORE: Super typhoon survivors desperate for aid.
She said aid agencies were also hearing figures of a death toll of more than 10,000 but this could rise.
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“It’s so difficult to get a full picture but villages are totally cut off,” she said.
“But what’s more tragic is the number of people who are affected, it’s over nine million at the moment. And these are the people that have lost their loved ones, who have lost their livelihoods, who have lost their houses, who are desperate for any help at the moment.”
She said getting food, fresh water and temporary shelter to people affected by the typhoon is a priority.
Bulling said it was also important for the government to start clearing roads so aid agencies could have access to devastated villages.
The international scramble to aid the Philippines comes as more than 1000 delegates from more than 180 countries converge to Sydney for a week-long Red Cross humanitarian forum.
An Oxfam aid team says children in Daanbantayan, the northern most tip of Cebu, are begging for help and holding signs pleading for food, water and medicine.
Nearly all the houses and buildings are damages, roads are blocked by trees and wreckage and the entire municipality is with out electricity.
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“The scene is one of utter devastation. There is no electricity in the entire area and no water. Local emergency food stocks have been distributed but stocks are dwindling,” Tata Abella-Bolo said in a statement issued by Oxfam Australia.
The organisation is preparing for Typhoon Haiyan to hit land in Vietnam within hours.
Meanwhile, the father of a Victorian woman travelling through the Philippines says he fears his daughter may have been caught up in super typhoon Haiyan.
Maiko `Michelle’ Reimann, 28, last made contact with her family on Friday, hours before the huge storm lashed the country.
Her father Werner Reimann says the family is anxious to hear from Maiko.
“I hope she’s okay but it would be nice to be sure,” he told News Corp Australia.
“When you see the devastation that has occurred you get worried, definitely.”
More than 10,000 people are feared dead as a result of the typhoon, making it the worst natural disaster in the country’s history.
So far one Australian, former Sydney priest Kevin Lee, is confirmed dead.
Lee founded the Padre Pio parish in Glenmore Park, in western Sydney, but moved to the Philippines after leaving the priesthood.
DFAT says Australians concerned for the welfare of family and friends in the region should first attempt to contact them directly.
If unsuccessful, they should call DFAT’s 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on 1300 555 135 or +612 6261 3305.
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