The information is reliable,” he told AP.
Around 750,000 people were forced to evacuated their homes while damage was believed to be severe.
GMA News reporter, Jiggy Manicad, said that at least 12 bodies were being housed at a church in Palo.
Southern Leyte Gov. Roger Mercado said, “When you’re faced with such a scenario, you can only pray, and pray and pray.”
He said that mayors in his province did not call to report any major damage.
“I hope that means they were spared and not the other way around,” he told AP. “My worst fear is there will be massive loss of lives and property.”
According to CNN, the storm surge that flooded Tacloban was 40 to 50 feet high.
As of Saturday, the eye of the storm was located west of Coron, Palawan,reported Rappler.
“We’ve had reports of uprooted trees, very strong winds… and houses made of light materials being damaged,” Philippine Red Cross chief Gwendolyn Pang told AFP.
“We have put rescue teams and equipment at different places, but at the moment we can’t really do much because of the heavy rain and strong winds. There is no power,” she added.
According to reports, the storm is considered one of the most powerful on record to ever make landfall.
At least 125,000 people in affected areas were moved to evacuation centers before the storm hit.
In of the hardest-hit cities, Tacloban, social media users uploaded videos of howling winds and streets that were heavily flooded. The storm also ripped roofs of buildings.
