TIMELINE: Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan)

Reynaldo Santos Jr

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

(UPDATED) Here's an updated timeline of how this year's strongest typhoon devastated areas of the country and how government is responding to the disaster

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – The country has just survived Super Typhoon Yolanda (international codename Haiyan), now considered as one of the most catastrophic cyclones this year.

The super typhoon brought strong winds and whipped up storm surges that battered parts of Eastern Visayas. State weather bureau PAGASA raised Storm Signal No. 4 in some affected areas – only the 15th time the high alert level was raised in the country.

Here’s a short timeline of how this year’s strongest typhoon developed and hit the country:

November 2, Saturday

A low pressure area (LPA) develops east of the Pacific islands of Micronesia.

November 3, Sunday

As the LPA intensifies, the Japanese Meterological Agency (JMA) and the Joint Warning Center (JTWC) classify it as a tropical depression. Typhoon warning is raised in the islands of Palau and Micronesia.

November 4, Monday

JMA and JWTC upgrade it to a tropical storm and assign the name Haiyan.

November 5, Tuesday

The storm becomes a typhoon as it passes through Micronesia, and is forecast to hit the Philippines.

November 6, Wednesday

JWTC notes the storm has become a super typhoon as it passes over Palau. PAGASA assigns the name Yolanda and raises storm signal No. 1 in eastern Visayas and Mindanao.

November 7, Thursday

Yolanda enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), triggering storm signal No. 3 in eastern Visayas and Mindanao in the morning.

As the super typhoon intensifies, the storm warning is upgraded to signal No. 4 in the evening.

Local governments conduct preemptive evacuations and declare class suspensions in various parts of the country.

In a televised address in the evening, President Benigno Aquino III urges Filipinos not to take chances.

November 8, Friday

Yolanda makes initial landfall on Eastern Samar at 4:40 am and goes “island hopping.”

PAGASA’s morning bulletin records maximum sustained winds of 235 kph and gustiness of up to 275 kph.

EYE OF THE STORM. Doppler radar image from the Cebu radar as of 6:14 am, 8 November 2013. Image courtesy of ClimateX

(READ: WRAP: Yolanda brings monster winds, giant waves)

Many areas have become out of reach as the typhoon destroyed power and communication lines.

The government closes down major airports and ports.

The super typhoon weakens in the afternoon and evening as it makes its way out of the country.

November 9, Saturday

The typhoon hovers over South China Sea in the morning, with public storm signals across the country lowered.

The typhoon finally exits the country in the afternoon and heads toward Vietnam and southern China, but leaves behind a massive trail of death and destruction in various parts of the country.

Red Cross claims that about 1,200 people are believed to have died in Leyte and Eastern Samar alone.

Most airports – shut down during the onslaught of the typhoon – resume operations, while telecommunication companies say it will take 2-3 days before they can restore communication lines in the Visayas.

November 10, Sunday

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) estimates that more than 2.1 million familes, or around 9.53 million individuals, are affected by typhoon Yolanda.

Dismayed with the level of response to the typhoon, Aquino is said to have walked out of a briefing with some officials, but returns to the meeting shortly after. Communications Assistant Secretary Rey Marfil later denies the walk out, saying the President only took a bathroom break.

November 11, Monday

Senator Francis Escudero says the Senate is looking into the creation of a special fund in the 2014 budget that will finance the rehabilitation of areas damaged by Yolanda and the earthquake in October, with Senate President Franklin Drilon proposing a P10-billion fund.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) confirms at least 1,774 deaths, with the bulk coming from Eastern Visayas.

The Philippine National Police deploys at least 883 personnel to affected areas, including more than 400 to Tacloban City, Leyte alone. A bulk of the PNP personnel sent to the Visayas – specifically Leyte, Samar, Cebu and Panay Islands – are Special Action Forces (SAF).

Naderev Saño, the Philippines’ Climate Change Commissioner, urges participants in the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Warsaw, Poland to end the climate crisis “madness” and pledges to fast during the talks until there is “a meaningful outcome” to the discussions.

In a televised address in the evening, President Aquino declares a state of national calamity “to hasten the action of the government to rescue, provide help, and rehabilitate the provinces affected by Yolanda.”

November 12, Tuesday

A Bloomberg report says that losses from Yolanda could reach as much as $15 billion, or around P650 billion, making it one of the most expensive disasters in Philippine history.

The United Nations (UN) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) launch an action plan to help rehabilitate the affected provinces. Prior to that, foreign governments and multilateral groups pledge to support and assist the Philippines in coping with the disaster.

The influx of foreign aid is prompted by the extensive coverage of international news agencies, which criticizes the government’s slow and disorganized relief distributions.

EXTENSIVE COVERAGE. CNN anchor Anderson Cooper reports on Haiyan live from an airport in Manila and tosses to Anna Coren on the latest relief efforts in Cebu. Screengrab from CNN

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) says government can put together up to P26.84 billion to help assist victims and rehabilitate affected areas.

PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima orders regional directors to implement a price freeze, along with local government units (LGUs) and the local Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) units.

In Tacloban City, the government deploys armored vehicles, sets up checkpoints, and imposes curfew to help end looting in the city.

November 13, Wednesday

In a CNN interview, President Aquino says the actual death toll is lower than the 10,000 earlier estimated by local officials, saying that the number they are working on right now is only between 2,000 to 2,500.

International news agencies, including CNN, report that government’s relief efforts had been slow and delayed. The Palace reacts, citing challenges in distribution and giving assurances it is working toward providing aid the quickest way possible.

Local anchor Korina Sanchez reacts negatively to reports of CNN’s Anderson Cooper, saying he didn’t know what he was talking about.

DBM announces the early release of year-end bonuses to goverment employees affected by the super typhoon.

Senate increases to P15 billion the amount to be set aside in the 2014 budget for rehabilitation, repair and construction work in areas devastated by Yolanda and the 7.2 magnitude quake in the Visayas.

November 14, Thursday

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) announces it will distribute flood-tolerant rice to farmers in devastated areas, as damages to agriculture stands at P6.9 billion.

US Navy ships arrive in Eastern Visayas to help in relief efforts.

The United Nations shares the frustration of typhoon victims over the slow delivery of aid to affected areas.

Health Secretary Enrique Ona declares a price freeze on essential medicines to deter pharmacy owners and drug manufacturers from taking advantage of the desperate need for drugs.

November 15, Friday

NDRRMC reports that the death toll has reached 3,621, with 1,140 missing and 12,165 injured.

Initial damage to agriculture, fisheries and irrigation infrastructure has reached more than P7 billion, Agriculture Sec. Proceso Alcala says.

Education Secretary Brother Armin Luistro directs public schools all over the country to accept “emergency transferees” coming from Yolanda-stricken schools, especially with 90% of school infrastructures in Tacloban City damaged.

November 16, Saturday

Over a week since the typhoon, local government officials blame the national government, while disaster management experts are more understanding.

NDRRMC reports that the total cost of damage has risen to P9.46 billion, with P9.09 billion damage to agriculture and more than P371 million damage to infrastructure.

The government finally decides to airdrop relief goods to remote barangays, an idea that was earlier dropped because of supposed risks.

November 17, Sunday

On Day 9, relief goods finally reach all 40 towns in Leyte.

NDRRMC says estimated total cost of damage has reached P10.339 billion. The death toll rose to 3,976, with 18,175 people reported injured and 1,590 missing.

Aquino returns to Tacloban City to oversee relief operations. The president praises the officials of Guiuan, but chides other officials.

November 18, Monday

Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez takes a swipe at Aquino who vented his ire on local governments that failed to prepare for the super typhoon. – Rappler.com

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Get the latest info on the status of areas affected by Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

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