At least 10,000 people are thought to have been killed in the Philippine city of Tacloban by Typhoon Haiyan, officials believe.
A further 300 are confirmed dead with 2,000 missing in the neighbouring island of Samar.
Up to 4.3 million people are said to have been directly affected by the typhoon's path and the death toll is expected to rise further as rescuers reach cut-off areas.
If the death toll estimate by government officials is confirmed, it would be the deadliest natural catastrophe on record in the Philippines.