As the death toll in the Philippines rises, more tragic stories from eyewitnesses are emerging…

Last Friday, typhoon Haiyan hit the Phillipines with devastasting consequences and now, four days on, the true scale of the disaster is emerging.

PLAND1

by Ellie Henman |
Published on

Thousands of people are feared dead – with over 500,000 people displaced – after the tropical storm hit the country, with some, already poverty stricken, areas thought to be the worst affected.

The UN has now launched an appeal for aid donations worth £190 million to help the country try and overcome the devastation, before the crisis worsens.

Harrowing photographs from the country started to emerge from Saturday morning and now, eyewitness accounts – some from British survivors – are coming to light.

Pictures of devastation left behind by the typhoon have been beamed around the world
Pictures of devastation left behind by the typhoon have been beamed around the world

One couple, from Sunderland, caught up in the typhoon have spoken out as they found themselves caught up in the devastation in Manila.

Tim Harding and his wife Chona Marie explained seeing scenes of “cataclysmic” devastation.

“It’s worse than anything I’ve seen in my life,” said Tim.

“I’m a strong person, but it’s hard to put into words the things we are seeing.

“There are bodies hanging from trees where the water has flooded back out after the storm.”

Tragically, thousands lost their lives in the natural disaster

Aid is currently being flown in from the national community – with International Development Secretary, Justin Greening today setting out the UK’s aid efforts – which includes sending NHS experts to the country. “The first thing is to get the logistic routes open, so we can start to get those life-saving supplies to people.

“We need then to work on the ground to get some semblance of order and start to put families back together.”

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