Typhoon Haiyan 2013: Location and Impact
Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines, a collection of islands in Asia located between the Pacific and Indian oceans. The Philippines sits just north of Australia and southeast of India, making it particularly vulnerable to tropical storms.
The social impacts were absolutely devastating. Over 6,300 people died and 2,000 went missing, whilst 4.5 million people were left homeless. Schools shut down, families had no access to clean water or food, and communication networks collapsed completely.
Economic damage reached $2.8 billion, with businesses destroyed and livelihoods wiped out. The environmental impact was equally severe - trees were uprooted, agriculture was destroyed, and the landscape was completely transformed.
Key Fact: The storm was caused by unusually warm seas, rising sea levels, and the meeting point of the Indian and Pacific oceans - creating perfect conditions for a super typhoon.