Bermudians joined hands with residents of the Filipino community and raised funds for emergency relief efforts in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Haiyan, which is feared to have killed 10,000 people in the Philippines.

Governor George Fergusson and his wife Margaret were among those at a packed fundraising luncheon at St Theresa’s church hall yesterday, which was attended by Islanders and Filipinos.

In the wake of the deadly storm — which battered the island country in Southeast Asia with maximum sustained winds of 195 miles per hour and gusts reaching 235mph — members of the Association of Filipinos in Bermuda have been trying to pin down information about their loved ones in the country.

The full extent of the devastation caused by the storm is still emerging as news filters through from the worst hit areas.

“At first we don’t know much of anything, there was no form of communication working because of the wind. All the cell phones were down, but now we’re hearing more,” said Ghenie Edwards, who heads the Island’s Filipinos Club 2000, which supported the luncheon event.

“We have friends who were really affected, their family home was completely washed away in landslides. And there’s a lot of damage to crops, farm animals. There’s devastation everywhere.

“We got a call this morning from a friend who used to live here as well. She has a ministry in a remote area, they have no electricity no food or water, or medicine,” she said.

“There was a tidal wave in her area and there’s lots of damage and they’re desperately asking for help.”

The typhoon was one of the most powerful storms ever to make landfall when it struck on Friday.

Yesterday’s fundraising luncheon was originally planned weeks ago to help the victims of a 7.1 magnitude earthquake that was centred on Bohol in mid-October.

Home Affairs Minister Michael Fahy was another of the officials who attended the $25-a-plate dinner.

A slide presentation of the widespread devastation caused by Typhoon Haiyan was shown during the luncheon.

Minister Fahy expressed his concern for and support to Bermuda’s Filipino community in the aftermath of the devastation left by Super Typhoon Haiyan.

He noted that some meteorologists are estimating the tropical cyclone may be the strongest in recorded history.

“Bermuda has a very large Filipino community, and we understand that this must be a very uncertain time for them,” said Sen Fahy.

“We’re no strangers to hurricanes and tropical storms, and while Bermuda certainly pales in comparison to the numbers affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan — 4.3 million people — we wish to express our support, as we can empathise with the anxiety our Filipino friends must be experiencing in the wake of this storm.

“I want to take this opportunity to ask residents to keep our Filipino community and their families in their thoughts as they navigate through this very difficult time.”

The Bermuda Red Cross launched a cash appeal last night to support the effort already underway by the British Red Cross.

A spokesperson said: “The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) was on its highest alert since the typhoon was sighted and has been coordinating their response with disaster authorities in the affected regions.

“More than 125,000 families were evacuated to safer shelters ahead of Haiyan’s landfall.”

PRC and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies began distributing hygiene kits, water containers, tarpaulins, blankets and sleeping mats to the hardest-hit areas as emergency responders and volunteers began setting up welfare desks and first aid stations in evacuation centres as Typhoon Haiyan headed toward Vietnam.

The international body has already released funds from its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund to support “the immediate deployment responders and assessment teams”.

The Bermuda Red Cross is appealing to the Bermuda community for donations to support the large-scale relief efforts of the International Movement.

Donations can be made by direct deposit into the following accounts: HSBC Bank of Bermuda 010-187417-012 or Butterfield Bank 20-006-060-663859-200.

For more information call 236-8253 or e-mail redcrossdirector@logic.bm.

Meanwhile, the Filipino Club 2000 will host another fundraiser on December 1 at St Paul Church Hall in Paget. Ms Edwards said they had already planned to hold their Christmas party on that date with funds to assist earthquake victims in the Philippines.

Now she said the proceeds will be pooled for the relief effort in general. Tickets are $35 for dinner and the show.

Donations may be deposited at Butterfield Bank account number 20006060110146100.

For more information e-mail club2000bermuda@yahoo.com or call 538-3849.

Donations can also be made to: The Salvation Army, Philippines Disaster Appeal, PO Box HM 2259, Hamilton HM JX, or online, at HSBC 010-202539-001 noting ‘Philippines’ with an e-mail to Bermuda_Inquiries@can.salvationarmy.org with your donor details.