In Pictures

In pictures: Philippine typhoon devastation

Bopha's 175-kph winds and heavy rains left nearly 700 dead, 900 missing, and hundreds of thousands displaced.
Jeof Maitem Last Modified: 11 Dec 2012 11:00

Mindanao, Philippines - A week after Typhoon Bopha slammed into the southern Philippines, its deadly effects continue to plague the region with nearly 700 people dead and 900 missing.

Survivors have been left with nothing other than tales of horror, as the storm's 175-kph winds and raging rainwater washed away island residents and their homes. Search-and-rescue operations are underway for the missing, but many areas remain unreachable.

Out of more than 302,500 people displaced, nearly 133,900 are now packed into 172 evacuation centres. What little aid getting through is being fought over by survivors.

On Monday, the Philippines and the United Nations launched a $65m global appeal to help victims of Bopha. 

According to Luiza Carvalho, the country officer for the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the funds would initially help 480,000 people in the worst-hit areas.

Rapid needs assessments indicate a dire shortage of water, food, shelter, medicines, and generators in the areas of Davao Oriental, Compostela Valley and Agusan del Sur.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino - who recently declared a state of national calamity to allow for price controls on basic commodities and the quick release of emergency funds - said the government is doing everything it can to prevent the spread of disease in evacuation centres.

At the same time, authorities said they're ready to file criminal charges against local officials who neglected their duties during the devastation Bopha wrought.

The government said it aims to begin rebuilding infrastructure damaged by the typhoon this week.

Benito Ramos, the head of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said 647 bodies had been found and 900 people were still missing, including hundreds of fishermen.

Rescuers continued searching for bodies or signs of life under tonnes of fallen trees and boulders in the worst-hit town of New Bataan, in the Compostela Valley.

"We had a good livelihood going. Now, what will we do with our land? Nothing will grow on it. Our coconut trees all were uprooted," said survivor Buboy Francisco. 

Typhoons are rare in this part of the country, and people are trying to make do as best they can, even putting salvaged items from the debris up for sale to earn money.
Jeof Maitem/Al Jazeera
The town of Boston, in the southern Philippines' Compostela Valley province, was devastated by Typhoon Bopha.


Jeof Maitem/Al Jazeera
Soldiers unload recovered bodies in the town of New Bataan in Compostela Valley province.


Jeof Maitem/Al Jazeera
Residents are seen along the highway after heavy rains and strong winds hit the township of Mabini in Compostela Valley.


Jeof Maitem/Al Jazeera
Hundreds of people lost their lives in the typhoon.


Jeof Maitem/Al Jazeera
Residents carry the bodies of flood victims from a municipal gymnasium in the township of New Bataan.


Jeof Maitem/Al Jazeera
A man works on fixing his house, which was destroyed by the typhoon.


Jeof Maitem/Al Jazeera
A boy walks past a devastated village. Nine-hundred people are still missing, including hundreds of fishermen.


Jeof Maitem/Al Jazeera
Philippine President Benigno Aquino declared a state of national calamity to allow for price controls on basic commodities and the quick release of emergency funds.


Jeof Maitem/Al Jazeera
Residents cross a damaged bridge in the town of Baganga in Davao Oriental province.


Jeof Maitem/Al Jazeera
Out of the 302,586 people who remain displaced, 133,892 are now staying in 172 evacuation centres.


Jeof Maitem/Al Jazeera
Residents receive relief assistance from a private company in the town of New Bataan, one of the worst-hit by the typhoon.


Jeof Maitem/Al Jazeera
Typhoon survivors beg for food along the highway in New Bataan.
images:
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captions:
The town of Boston, in the southern Philippines(***) Compostela Valley province, was devastated by Typhoon Bopha.;*;Soldiers unload recovered bodies in the town of New Bataan in Compostela Valley province.;*;Residents are seen along the highway after heavy rains and strong winds hit the township of Mabini in Compostela Valley.;*;Hundreds of people lost their lives in the typhoon.;*;Residents carry the bodies of flood victims from a municipal gymnasium in the township of New Bataan.;*;A man works on fixing his house, which was destroyed by the typhoon.;*;A boy walks past a devastated village. Nine-hundred people are still missing, including hundreds of fishermen.;*;Philippine President Benigno Aquino declared a state of national calamity to allow for price controls on basic commodities and the quick release of emergency funds.;*;Residents cross a damaged bridge in the town of Baganga in Davao Oriental province.;*;Out of the 302,586 people who remain displaced, 133,892 are now staying in 172 evacuation centres.;*;Residents receive relief assistance from a private company in the town of New Bataan, one of the worst-hit by the typhoon.;*;Typhoon survivors beg for food along the highway in New Bataan. Daylife ID:
1355212185209
Photographer:
Jeof Maitem;*;Jeof Maitem;*;Jeof Maitem;*;Jeof Maitem;*;Jeof Maitem;*;Jeof Maitem;*;Jeof Maitem;*;Jeof Maitem;*;Jeof Maitem;*;Jeof Maitem;*;Jeof Maitem;*;Jeof Maitem;*;Jeof Maitem
Image Source:
Al Jazeera;*;Al Jazeera;*;Al Jazeera;*;Al Jazeera;*;Al Jazeera;*;Al Jazeera;*;Al Jazeera;*;Al Jazeera;*;Al Jazeera;*;Al Jazeera;*;Al Jazeera;*;Al Jazeera;*;Al Jazeera
Gallery Source:
Daylife
Daylife Raw Data:
Bopha gallery - commissionedhttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Bopha-gallery-_-commissioneden-usAl Jazeerafeedback@daylife.com10Tue, 11 Dec 2012 07:49:45 GMTTue, 11 Dec 2012 08:12:00 GMT http://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Bopha-gallery-_-commissioned?image_id=0enQfBY3Uzgtc

The town of Boston, in the southern Philippines' Compostela Valley province, was devastated by Typhoon Bopha.

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Bopha-gallery-_-commissioned?image_id=0enQfBY3UzgtcJeof MaitemAl JazeeraAl Jazeera Upload Images

The town of Boston, in the southern Philippines' Compostela Valley province, was devastated by Typhoon Bopha.

 http://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Bopha-gallery-_-commissioned?image_id=0aQz4lT7b1aiV

Soldiers unload recovered bodies in the town of New Bataan in Compostela Valley province.

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Bopha-gallery-_-commissioned?image_id=0aQz4lT7b1aiVJeof MaitemAl JazeeraAl Jazeera Upload Images

Soldiers unload recovered bodies in the town of New Bataan in Compostela Valley province.

 http://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Bopha-gallery-_-commissioned?image_id=07PW9H1bud1cu

Residents are seen along the highway after heavy rains and strong winds hit the township of Mabini in Compostela Valley.

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Bopha-gallery-_-commissioned?image_id=07PW9H1bud1cuJeof MaitemAl JazeeraAl Jazeera Upload Images

Residents are seen along the highway after heavy rains and strong winds hit the township of Mabini in Compostela Valley.

 http://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Bopha-gallery-_-commissioned?image_id=094mb7o9awasi

Hundreds of people lost their lives in the typhoon.

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Bopha-gallery-_-commissioned?image_id=094mb7o9awasiJeof MaitemAl JazeeraAl Jazeera Upload Images

Hundreds of people lost their lives in the typhoon.

 http://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Bopha-gallery-_-commissioned?image_id=0eepbPSfJYeWh

Residents carry the bodies of flood victims from a municipal gymnasium in the township of New Bataan.

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Bopha-gallery-_-commissioned?image_id=0eepbPSfJYeWhJeof MaitemAl JazeeraAl Jazeera Upload Images

Residents carry the bodies of flood victims from a municipal gymnasium in the township of New Bataan.

 http://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Bopha-gallery-_-commissioned?image_id=05bC5lA6NZbhm

A man works on fixing his house, which was destroyed by the typhoon.

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Bopha-gallery-_-commissioned?image_id=05bC5lA6NZbhmJeof MaitemAl JazeeraAl Jazeera Upload Images

A man works on fixing his house, which was destroyed by the typhoon.

 http://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Bopha-gallery-_-commissioned?image_id=06Vd0Rc4H6fIH

A boy walks past a devastated village. Nine hundred people are still missing, including hundreds of fishermen.

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Bopha-gallery-_-commissioned?image_id=06Vd0Rc4H6fIHJeof MaitemAl JazeeraAl Jazeera Upload Images

A boy walks past a devastated village. Nine hundred people are still missing, including hundreds of fishermen.

 http://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Bopha-gallery-_-commissioned?image_id=070u6z47W4eSM

Philippine President Benigno Aquino declared a state of national calamity to allow for price controls on basic commodities and the quick release of emergency funds.

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Bopha-gallery-_-commissioned?image_id=070u6z47W4eSMJeof MaitemAl JazeeraAl Jazeera Upload Images

Philippine President Benigno Aquino declared a state of national calamity to allow for price controls on basic commodities and the quick release of emergency funds.

 http://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Bopha-gallery-_-commissioned?image_id=00PS6no5TzgTN

Residents cross a damaged bridge in the town of Baganga in Davao Oriental province.

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Bopha-gallery-_-commissioned?image_id=00PS6no5TzgTNJeof MaitemAl JazeeraAl Jazeera Upload Images

Residents cross a damaged bridge in the town of Baganga in Davao Oriental province.

 http://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Bopha-gallery-_-commissioned?image_id=07f0djQ2fy8yI

Out of the 302,586 people who remain displaced, 133,892 are now staying in 172 evacuation centres.

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Bopha-gallery-_-commissioned?image_id=07f0djQ2fy8yIJeof MaitemAl JazeeraAl Jazeera Upload Images

Out of the 302,586 people who remain displaced, 133,892 are now staying in 172 evacuation centres.

 http://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Bopha-gallery-_-commissioned?image_id=08pBeS5gMf3u2

The Philippine government is ready to file charges against local officials who neglected their duties during the devastation of Bopha, which was also known as Typhoon Pablo.

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Bopha-gallery-_-commissioned?image_id=08pBeS5gMf3u2Jeof MaitemAl JazeeraAl Jazeera Upload Images

The Philippine government is ready to file charges against local officials who neglected their duties during the devastation of Bopha, which was also known as Typhoon Pablo.

 http://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Bopha-gallery-_-commissioned?image_id=09lq6bW8Jp2Ns

Residents receive relief assistance from a private company in the town of New Bataan, one of the worst-hit by the typhoon.

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Bopha-gallery-_-commissioned?image_id=09lq6bW8Jp2NsJeof MaitemAl JazeeraAl Jazeera Upload Images

Residents receive relief assistance from a private company in the town of New Bataan, one of the worst-hit by the typhoon.

 http://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Bopha-gallery-_-commissioned?image_id=0fhgcva16m6Ql

Typhoon survivors beg for food along the highway in New Bataan.

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMThttp://aljazeera.smartgalleries.net/gallery/Bopha-gallery-_-commissioned?image_id=0fhgcva16m6QlJeof MaitemAl JazeeraAl Jazeera Upload Images

Typhoon survivors beg for food along the highway in New Bataan.

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