Typhoon Haiyan, known in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Yolanda, was one of the most powerful tropical cyclones ever recorded. Upon making landfall, Haiyan devastated portions of Southeast Asia, particularly the Philippines. It is one of the deadliest Philippine typhoons on record, killing at least 6,300 people in that country alone. In terms of JTWC-estimated 1-minute sustained winds, Haiyan is tied with Meranti in 2016 for being the second strongest landfalling tropical cyclone on record, only behind Goni of 2020. As of January 2014, bodies were still being found. Haiyan was also the most intense tropical cyclone worldwide in 2013.
An aerial view of Guiuan, the town where the typhoon made its first landfall
Destruction in Basey, Samar after the typhoon passed over the town
Devastated coconut trees in Guiuan
The remains of a home destroyed by the storm in Tacloban
Typhoons in the Philippines
The Philippines is a typhoon-prone country, with approximately 20 typhoons entering its area of responsibility each year. Locally known generally as bagyo, typhoons regularly form in the Philippine Sea and less regularly, in the South China Sea, with the months of June to September being the most active, August being the month with the most activity. Each year, at least ten typhoons are expected to hit the island nation, with five expected to be destructive and powerful. In 2013, Time declared the country as the "most exposed country in the world to tropical storms".
Typhoon Angela (Rosing) prior to landfall in November 1995
Tropical Storm Ketsana (Ondoy) over the Philippines in September 2009
Typhoon Kujira near peak intensity on May 4, 2009