More photos from Tacloban

[Ian]

As a small tribute to the city that was before super-typhoon devastated it a few days ago, here are some shots from our family trip to Leyte via Tacloban in September and October 2010. We were on our way to visit my late mother's home town of Hilongos on the south west coast of the island. Luckily, compared to Tacloban - only 50 miles away as the crow flies, Hilongos escaped relatively unscathed. Much of what I have photographed in Taclobn here is now rubble.



An early morning arrival at Tacloban airport. Our PAL Airbus was the only airliner there.



Tacloban airport baggage claim hall - happier times.



Getting in to cousin Gev's van for the long road trip through the centre of Leyte from Tacloban to Hilongos.



San Juanico bridge linking Leyte at Tacloban to Samar island, which was also devastated by the typhoon.



Entering Samar.



This quiet bay was much of the source of the devastation in the form of a 6 metre (almost 20 feet) storm surge.



A jetty at the small inter-island ferry port in Tacloban.

Some shots from downton Tacloban:











Tacloban harbour.



Even in a provincial town in the Philippines you will find a McDonalds. It's probably not there any more. Maybe even our vantage point has been destroyed? This was photographed from the upstairs of the local McDonalds rival burger restaurant, JolliBee.



Lara, bleary-eyed, waits for breakfast at the local JolliBee burger restaurant.



In the departure lounge at Tacloban airport waiting to return to Manila.



Our plane back to Manila.



Now only the control tower is standing but there is no more airport for it to control.

If you haven't already seen some other shots of mine from Tacloban posted 3 years ago see:

http://dpnow.com/forum2/showthread.php?t=11050

Ian

[Pol]

Re: More photos from Tacloban

Thanks for those. It's so difficult to get one's head around the scale and extent of the destruction and the loss of life. I can hardly bear to look at the images of the little kids and the old and vulnerable who have just endured a life-changing event and still have such a hard time ahead of them.

I'm so relieved to hear your family are okay, though I'm sure they must be feeling shocked about everything that's happened. It must be a huge relief for you all.

Pol

[Barr1e]

Re: More photos from Tacloban

Thanks for those. It's so difficult to get one's head around the scale and extent of the destruction and the loss of life. I can hardly bear to look at the images of the little kids and the old and vulnerable who have just endured a life-changing event and still have such a hard time ahead of them.

I'm so relieved to hear your family are okay, though I'm sure they must be feeling shocked about everything that's happened. It must be a huge relief for you all.

Pol

I can't look, but I feel deeply hurt for those involved.

We have a friend flying over tomorrow to see what help he can offer.

Regards. Barr1e

[Pops]

Re: More photos from Tacloban

Heartbreaking to think the whole area is now flattened. The media photographs are beyond my imagination.

[Pol]

Re: More photos from Tacloban

Heartbreaking to think the whole area is now flattened. The media photographs are beyond my imagination.

It's just so tragic and overwhelming.

I was listening to a Radio 4 interview with someone from The Disasters Emergencies Committee and they have an appeal page if anyone wants to make a donation. the url is ...

http://www.dec.org.uk/

Pol

[Caz]

Re: More photos from Tacloban

So glad to hear that your family are OK Ian, and hoping that the relief agencies can reach the outlying areas soon. No one can fail to be touched by the images and footage that have been shown since the storm hit.

[Bob Ross]

Re: More photos from Tacloban

Hi Ian,
Thanks for posting the pics. It does add dimentions to what we hear. While the magitude of the storm was unheard of in our time, the "island" nature of the area is an invitation for a huge loss of life situation. Our hurricanes can give us a taste of what happened, but at least folks in the US can evacuate into the inland areas.
Repair to the devastation even here in the US still is no where near finished .... that would include Katrina, Rita, Ike and Sandy....over the years.
Wouldn't it be nice if all the war making machinery in the world was reconfigured to respond to the growing threat of natural disasters around the world? No time to fight, we have to be ready for the next whatever .... peiople to save, food & water to deliver .......
Bob