The scary extent of Typhoon Haiyan, which devastated the Philippines, is apparent in this shot from the International Space Station. From the orbital perch about 250 miles (400 kilometers) above Earth, the estimated Category 5 typhoon fills most of the view. On the ground, wind speeds reached as high as 235 miles an hour (378 kph), reports say.
NASA and others are saying that the storm is likely the biggest one on record to make landfall. As of this morning, the official death count from a Philippines disaster agency is 2,275, but it will be a while before numbers become more clear. Initial estimates of the death toll ranged as high as 10,000, but in media reports from this morning, Philippines president Benigno Aquino III estimated deaths would be between 2,000 and 2,500.
Meanwhile, the United Nations is asking for $301 million to assist the estimated 11 million people who were affected by the storm, including more than 670,000 who have fled from their homes to escape the powerful surge. Assistance agencies are struggling to get people the help they need.
“There are still many places that are not accessible yet,” Elizabeth Byrs, a spokeswoman for the World Food Program said in Geneva, said in a New York Times report. The WFP plans to charter boats to send more supplies, she added.
More views from orbit are visible in this past Universe Today story by Ken Kremer.
oTay… so where are the AGW pranksters now? As… one of the major effects of Global Warming in the predictions made by climatologists is that storms will be bigger and stronger. Leesee here… on top of THIS storm, should I mention Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Sandy?
How does this crap make it past the moderator? Politics have no role in science.
Because there’s nothing in that comment that violates this site’s comment rules.
I just read through the comments in your account history. It speaks multitudes.
The Pacific sees 1-2 class 5 storms every year. This one happened to make landfall. Science is no place for politics…please clean this site up.
I recognize you from your earlier AGW comments. Who do you work for? Are you paid to cruise the internet and crap up any science that confirms global warming? Really… I want to know why you are keeping your head in the sand or other posterior appendage?
If you hadn’t heard, this particular storm had the highest wind gusts ever recorded for a Typhoon… 235 mph!
With a little more humanity maybe your first mention could have been what your efforts are to directly help those affected by this typhoon.
You are so right… my apologies if I offended anyone. This disaster continues to grow as new information trickles in from the devastated area… My heart goes out to all those who have lost loved ones, cannot communicate with them or have lost their homes. Am very saddened by this horrific event.
Where’s the Like button in this place..
Tip had a lower barometric pressure, and Nancy may have had even higher winds, so even Yolanda has competition in the not too distant past