Some of the most moving and powerful photographs captured in November have been of the destruction left in Typhoon Haiyan’s wake in the Philippines. Erik De Castro, Reuters chief photographer in the Philippines, was on the scene in the devastated town of Tacloban to capture images of the damage – from scenes of victims waiting for food and water to aerial views of the rubble to the birth of a child born in chaos. In a Reuters Best: Journalist Spotlight Q&A, Erik offers a behind-the-scenes look at his experience in Tacloban.
Q. Where were you when you heard the news of the impending storm? How and when did you get into Tacloban?
A. I had just arrived to spend my holidays on Marinduque island a few days before Haiyan struck the Philippines. I cancelled my plans and returned to Manila immediately when I heard that there was a strong typhoon coming. I first thought of going to Tacloban a day before Haiyan was supposed to make landfall, but since typhoons can change directions I decided to wait for the typhoon to arrive. I was able to take the second Philippine military flight to Tacloban, in the early afternoon a day after the typhoon struck.
Q. What did you see when you arrived on the scene?
A. It was less than an hour before dark when I arrived at Tacloban airport and I was shocked when I saw the damage. I saw wounded people walking barefoot and carrying empty water containers. I could see the agony on the faces of the survivors. On the second day, I was told by a friend from the UN that there were women in one of the damaged rooms at the airport giving birth. I went immediately and saw a mother who had just given birth, as well as another pregnant woman who was having labor pains, lying on a floor next to the rubble. The birth of Baby Beatriz was so important to me. Seeing a new life arriving in Tacloban, where there has been such massive devastation and death, represented such a positive story.
Q. What was the hardest part about reporting this story?
A. Covering the story on foot for hours while having a heavy downpour was the hardest part, I think. Everything has been knocked out in the city. I rely on power from a makeshift airport controllers’ generator to charge my camera batteries, laptop and satellite phone. And I have slept on a sleeping bag under the moonlight and stars and been woken up after only an hour or two by rain.
Q. What advantages does working at Reuters give you in working on a story like this?
A. Reuters is quick to respond and has organized a team to effectively cover these types of stories; I have gained some good experience covering disasters with Reuters. I always have cases full of gear for different disasters like typhoons, flooding or earthquakes, so I’m always ready to go.
Q. What makes you passionate about journalism?
A. Photojournalism has been my life since I was young. I have photographed a lot of events, but I still feel an adrenalin rush and so much excitement, especially when I cover a story like this. Even how hard and tiring it is – I don’t mind as long as I have nice pictures to show the world.
To read the latest on Erik’s photography blog, click here.
