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How high was the storm surge that hit Tacloban?
Five to six meters
Deadly Storm Surge Five to six meters (15 to 18 feet) of storm surge, amplified by steep bathymetry, struck the thriving city of Tacloban (pop. ~242,000). The majority of those killed on Leyte drowned within minutes of the storm surge inundation, which extended up to two kilometers inland.
What disaster hit the Tacloban City in 2013?
Super Typhoon Haiyan
Super Typhoon Haiyan, also known as Super Typhoon Yolanda, made landfall in the Philippines on Nov. 8, 2013, as a Category 5 storm. It laid waste to the Visayas group of islands, the country’s central region and home to 17 million people.
Is Tacloban prone to typhoon?
The Philippines is highly prone to typhoon activity, with twenty tropical cyclones crossing the island chain per year on average, with ten of those reaching typhoon status, and five of these causing major destruction. These factors render the Tacloban city highly exposed to typhoon hazards.
Why was Tacloban badly hit by the typhoon?
Because of the storm’s track and extreme winds, and the bathymetry and orientation of San Pedro Bay, an exceptional storm surge was funneled into the shallow bay between Leyte and Samar islands and into Tacloban City.
Why is Tacloban prone to earthquake?
TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte, Sept 11 (PIA) — The presence of active Philippine Fault zone and lineaments have put 29 municipalities in Eastern Visayas as high risk to earthquakes.
How big was the storm surge in Tacloban?
In Tacloban, winds blew a wall of water ashore that may have been as much as 7.5 meters (24.6 feet) high. Much of the city sits less than 5 meters (16 feet) above sea level. These false-color images hint at the impact of the storm surge and winds on the city.
What caused the destruction of Tacloban?
It wasn’t the wind, or the torrential rainfall that caused most of the appalling devastation and loss of life in Tacloban, but the storm surge. At least 90% of the structures in the city were damaged or destroyed by surge up to 4 meters (13 feet) high. Storm surge is a complex sub-peril, and several factors affect how much water comes ashore.
How high is Tacloban above sea level?
In Tacloban, winds blew a wall of water ashore that may have been as much as 7.5 meters (24.6 feet) high. Much of the city sits less than 5 meters (16 feet) above sea level.
What if Typhoon Haiyan hit Tacloban City at high tide?
Fortunately for Tacloban City, Haiyan struck when the tide locally was low; had it arrived at high tide the surge would have been even greater and the destruction would have been correspondingly worse.