Typhoon Haiyan, known locally as Yolanda, hit the Philippines in the early morning of 8 November, affecting more than 9.5 million people. At least 670,000 have been displaced, 80,000 homes have been destroyed and the number of casualties continues to rise, with Tacloban City, in Leyte province, reportedly flattened by winds of up to 200mph and storm surges as high as six metres. Efforts are underway to reach affected areas, including the worst-hit provinces of Samar, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Iloilo, and Capiz, which have been without electricity and communication lines for days. Before the typhoon, most if not all of these provinces were categorised as the poorest in the country.