Haiyan, the most powerful typhoon ever recorded in 2013, slammed into the central islands of the Philippines Friday, forcing thousands to abandon homes in search for higher ground. 33 casualties have already been reported, climbing from 4 in a matter of hours.

Super Typhoon Haiyan, also known in the Philippines as Yolanda, is a category 5 typhoon, packing winds of up to 165 mph. It made landfall in the Philippined through Guiuan, Samar Province, and began leaving a trail of destruction throughout central Philippines.

The Central Philippines, which is barely recovering from the earthquakes that struck not a month prior, underwent war-like preparations for what was considered the strongest typhoon to ever hit the Philippines. 

Large, ancient trees were uprooted by maximum sustained winds of 195 mph, cars reportedly flipping over in the wind. Towns have also become flooded as super typhoon Haiyan raged by the area.

The city of Tacloban and the province of Palo, Leyte, were the worst hit by the typhoon. Theere were reports of bodies washing up on coastal areas, and corpses in the streets. The dead were taken to a church in Leyte, but the wind was so strong it blew the roof right off.

Reporters say they fet like they were in a washing machine, as 200kph winds blew for about four hours.

Ferry services and 13 airports have been shut down in fear of typhoon Haiyan, or Typhoon Yolanda as it is called in the Philippines, with up to 450 domestic/ 8 international flights canceled: a big blow to local economies of Central Philippines, which relies on the influx of tourism.

Super typhoon Haiyan is already expected to leave the Philippnes before tomorrow.

Meteorologists have said that typhoon Haiyan brought along with it catastrophic damage. Citizens in to-be affected areas, despite being used to having 20 storms pass through the Philippines yearly, movedswiftly out of harm's way.