Haiyan hits Philippines

On Nov. 8, the typhoon Haiyan, one of the largest and most destructive ever recorded, roared across six islands in the Philippines, leaving more than 5,200 people dead, 1,500 missing, 23,400 injured and hundreds of thousands homeless. Entire towns were flattened.

Hardest hit were locations in the Eastern and Western Visayas regions, including Guiuan in Eastern Samar Province; Tacloban and Ormoc in Leyte Province; Bantayan Island and Daanbantayan in Cebu Province; Concepcion in Iloilo Province, and Busuanga in Palawan Province. 

Damaged and flooded roads, downed trees and piles of debris hampered access to those bringing initial aid, but the commercial airports were quickly cleared and extra ferries were added to bring supplies and personnel to the region.