Beginning Friday, November 8, Typhoon Haiyan roared through the Philippines with high destructive force. Michael Tamaki (11) explained how he “felt a bit shocked after hearing that it hit the Philippines.”

Unable to determine the monstrosity of potential damage, the people of the Philippines are now suffering immensely. BBC News reported, “The official death toll stands at more than 2,300, but local officials and aid workers say it could rise much higher.” Chris Gonzalez (11) sympathized, “It’s sad and almost scary to see how many people in the Philippines died because of the typhoon.”

Easily one of the biggest typhoons in history, the New York Times reported that Typhoon Haiyan reached wind speeds close to 200 miles per hour and created waves around 20 feet. Dimitri Hansen (11) commented, “This shows the power of nature. It’s terrible to see the aftermath of it.” These terrifying natural disasters emphasizes the power of mother nature.

One of the biggest reasons for the devastation in Philippines is the lack of safety measures. Most of the structures and living spaces were not weather sealed and up to standard. The Huffington Post reported, “Geography, meteorology, poverty, shoddy construction, a booming population, and, to a much lesser degree, climate change combine to make the Philippines the nation most vulnerable to killer typhoons, according to several scientific studies.” Much of the destruction could have actually been prevented if prevention strategies were carefully orchestrated.

With help from the U.S. and various organizations, such as UNICEF, the people of the Philippines are slowly recovering. Although at a slow pace, the people of Philippines will once prove the country is resilient.