PHILIPPINES — On November 8, Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda* slammed into the Philippines islands leaving catastrophic destruction in its wake. According to the BBC, the Philippine government is calling Haiyan/Yolanda one of the worst storms on record with an official death toll of 3631. As reported on NPR “U.S. Navy/Air Force’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center, Haiyan produced sustained wind speeds of around 190 or 195 mph at its peak and… gusts up to 230 mph, which is as fast as a speeding race car.”
Because of its location the Philippines is accustomed to strong storms – even typhoons that would equate to a category 4 or 5 hurricane in the United States. The country is an archipelago made up of over 7,000 islands which sits in a highly vulnerable geographic location. To the north rests Taiwan; to the South, Indonesia and to the West, Vietnam. In the east, there is nothing but warm Pacific Ocean making the Philippines a very easy target for storms.
Historically speaking this location also made the Philippines a popular stopping point for maritime travelers. Waves of ancient peoples made their home on these islands as they navigated the South Seas; including the Austronesian tribes and those from the ancient Hindu and early Islamic worlds. In the 16th century Spain colonized the archipelago, naming it after King Philip II (1527-1568.) The Spanish remained in control until the Spanish-American war in 1898.
