Church services held in typhoon-shattered city

11/16/2013
ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • Philippines-Typhoon-64

    Survivors of Typhoon Haiyan walk over a "Help" message painted on a concrete floor, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2013 in Burauen town, Leyte province, central Philippines. Typhoon Haiyan, one of the most powerful storms on record, hit the country's eastern seaboard Nov. 8, leaving a wide swath of destruction.(AP Photo/Wong Maye-E)

    ASSOCIATED PRESS

    • TACLOBAN, Philippines — Churches in parts of the Philippines destroyed by Typhoon Haiyan are holding Sunday services.

    Bells rang out from the badly damaged Santa Nino church in the mostly leveled city of Tacloban.

    Marino Caintic says his home was only partially damage and he came to pray and give thanks that all his family survived.

    He says “coming to mass gives people hope that things will eventually get better.”

    More than 80 percent of the 90 million people in the Philippines are Roman Catholic.

    The Nov. 8 typhoon killed more than 3,500 people and destroyed or damaged hundreds of thousands of homes.

    A major international relief effort is underway to assist survivors.