Learning English

After Typhoon Haiyan

In this unit we're going to be looking at natural disasters, and how people survive them. First, to help you learn the vocabulary for the unit, we're going to read about a tragedy that happened in the Philippines in 2013.

To do

Read the text and answer the questions.

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Typhoon Haiyan was one of the most destructive storms in history.

The statistics speak for themselves. It killed over 6,000 people, six million workers lost their sources of income and 30,000 boats were destroyed. In total, around 15 million people were affected. In many towns and cities over 90% of buildings were ruined, forcing many to live in shelters.

The storm struck on 8 November 2013. It was the most powerful ever to hit land, with heavy rain, winds of over 170 mph and sea levels rising by up to seven metres. At present the Philippines sees around 20 typhoons a year. The IPCC believes that climate change will mean an increase in cyclones, leaving even more people in the region at risk.

The scale of the tragedy also triggered a huge humanitarian response. Charities and aid agencies around the world raised money and delivered aid to populations affected, and volunteers from around the world offered their skills and assistance. Many people were critical of the pace of the Filipino government's efforts to rebuild communities, though officials said they responded well to their country's biggest ever logistical challenge.

Next

Well done. Now it's time to look at all the new language in a vocabulary test.