HALIFAX – As the death toll continues to climb in typhoon-devastated parts of the Philippines, many Filipinos in Halifax are waiting desperately to hear word from their families.
Conchita Judd is originally from Tacloban. The city was ravaged by Typhoon Haiyan three days ago, as fierce winds and giant waves crashed down on the area. The death toll could rise to 10,000.
But communication has been down in the area, leaving Judd to wait and wonder about her family.
“My mom, brother and sister, we have a house in Tacloban. I haven’t spoken to them,” she said.
“I hope everything will be ok. I just hope God protects them.”
Judd spoke on the phone with her sister, who lives in Truro, but was told there has been no new news.
“I’m just hoping everything will be in control,” she said. “We can’t do anything.”
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Jose Hernadaz initially had trouble reaching his family in Leyte, which was in the eye of the storm.
“It’s very scary to me. You can’t sleep. You don’t know. You don’t have any idea,” he said.
After three days of waiting to hear from them, he was able to reach his family.
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Hernadaz said that his family described the winds, which reached close to 300 km/h, like a jet plane. Though they escaped the storm unscathed, there is an immense amount of clean up.
He said that there is no power and electricity in the area and that his family has been told it will take two months to get them back.
But he is just relieved that they are ok.
“I’m just thankful to God they’re still alive. I’m very happy. I can’t explain,” he said.
June Esteban spoke with his relatives Saturday night about the destruction. He said that the roof of their house was demolished by the storm.
“So far they are good but the rice fields and everything, it’s all gone. Buildings…it was demolished by the typhoon,” he said.
Esteban said that he has been upset by the news coming out of the Philippines and that his relatives have been in tears over the aftermath.
“They say they could see dead bodies, young and old,” he said.
“We’re just praying for the safety of everybody back home.”
The typhoon is expected to make landfill in Vietnam.
Canadians wishing to help those affected by this storm are encouraged to make a financial donation online at redcross.ca/typhoon, or at their local Red Cross office or by calling 1-800-418-1111.
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