MANILA: As many as 1,200 persons have been killed and several others injured in one of the most powerful typhoons ever recorded that has stricken the central Philippines, the Philippine Red Cross estimated on Saturday.
The super typhoon Haiyan has forced nearly 800,000 people to leave their houses and caused extensive damage. Moreover, it has trampled houses, triggered landslides and floods and cut off power and communications in a number of islands.
Haiyan had sustained winds of 235 km/h (147 mph) with gusts of 275 275 km/h (170 mph) when it made landfall, weather officials said. Therefore, it is comparable to a strong Category 4 hurricane in the US, nearly in the top category, a 5.
