This is bad:
One of the strongest typhoons ever to make landfall devastated the central Philippines, killing more than 1,000 people in one city alone and 200 in another province, the Red Cross estimated on Saturday, as reports of high casualties began to emerge.
A day after Typhoon Haiyan churned through the Philippine archipelago in a straight line from east to west, rescue teams struggled to reach far-flung regions, hampered by washed out roads, many choked with debris and fallen trees.
As bad as it seems, these things usually get worse as more reports come in.
We have been negotiating with Manila to be able to use bases in the Philippines. Part of our appeal has been that we will preposition equipment and supplies to help with regional disasters.
This is a disaster that this type of preparation is meant for. But I don't know how far advanced any of those preparations are.
But I imagine we'll see American (and Japanese?) forces deploying to the Philippines in short order to assist the response effort.
And the typhoon isn't done smashing through the region.
God help them. This looks bad.
UPDATE: The Philippines is estimating 10,000 dead:
"We had a meeting last night with the governor and the other officials. The governor said based on their estimate, 10,000 died," Soria told Reuters.
I've heard American military forces are already helping. Good.
As an aside, reports are that the storm is sweeping through the South China Sea and heading for Vietnam. Is there a betting pool out there about which contested South China Sea islands China will occupy and fortify after the storm rattles anyone else standing on those islands?
UPDATE: The 10,000 figure is just the estimated toll of Typhoon Haiyan for one city, Tacloban.
And yes, the United States military has been ordered to help:
At the request of the government of the Philippines, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has directed U.S. Pacific Command to support U.S. government humanitarian relief operations in the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan.
The initial focus includes surface maritime search and rescue (SAR), medium-heavy helicopter lift support, airborne maritime SAR, fixed-wing lift support and logistics enablers.
In coordination with the U.S. Agency for International Development and the U.S. ambassador in Manila, the Department of Defense will continue to monitor the effects of Typhoon Haiyan and stands ready to help our ally recover from the storm.
On the news, they said that we are helping to set up communications, too, to help in the effort.
UPDATE: I'm not the only one wondering if China might consider Haiyan to be pre-seizure bombardment that loosens others' control of South China Sea islands.
