For many across Asia, fighting nature's fury is part of

is wreaking havoc across the world as deadly disasters destroy coastlines and devastate communities.

Known locally as Yolanda, it was the strongest storm to make landfall ever recorded.

In 2013, Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines. Known locally as Yolanda, it was the strongest storm to make landfall ever recorded.

This is the story of a small town’s five-year road to recovery. Told through the eyes of its survivors.

This is the story of a small town’s five-year road to recovery. Told through the eyes of its survivors.

More than 1,300 people were killed.

There was silence on the streets. And the smell of death hung in the air.

There was silence on the streets. And the smell of death hung in the air. More than 1,300 people were killed.

The town of Tanauan on Leyte Island was wiped out in minutes.

The town of Tanauan on Leyte Island was wiped out in minutes.

Many victims were never found.

As the body count rose, mass graves were dug near churches and schools.

As the body count rose, mass graves were dug near churches and schools. Many victims were never found.

The brothers, their wives and children were swept away.

Typhoon Haiyan’s huge waves smashed into their homes. The brothers, their wives and children were swept away.

"I saw my son getting further from me.

Twin brothers Elmer and Mariano Labada lived next door to each other in small shacks near the coast.

Twin brothers Elmer and Mariano Labada lived next door to each other in small shacks near the coast.

"We searched for three days without eating or sleeping.

Four of their children disappeared.

Four of their children disappeared.

As the days passed, rescue workers told the brothers to give up looking for their children.

As the days passed, rescue workers told the brothers to give up looking for their children.

Life would never be the same again.

The mayor said they’d prepared for a typhoon, but no one anticipated the wall of water that would engulf them.

The mayor said they’d prepared for a typhoon, but no one anticipated the wall of water that would engulf them.

At Tanauan’s town hall, Mayor Pel Tecson and his wife coordinated relief efforts.

At Tanauan’s town hall, Mayor Pel Tecson and his wife coordinated relief efforts.

"Some of the supplies were wet but we distributed them anyway.

"Some of the supplies were wet but we distributed them anyway. Our fire truck washed away."

"They are queuing for medicines.

residents in Tanauan depended on Mayor Pel’s help, but supplies were limited.

10,000 residents in Tanauan depended on Mayor Pel’s help, but supplies were limited.

"We will have to relocate the families.

Mayor Pel wants to stop such a tragedy from ever happening again.

Mayor Pel wants to stop such a tragedy from ever happening again.

She had to loot shops and beg to survive.

12-year-old Angela Tolibas was orphaned in the storm.

12-year-old Angela Tolibas was orphaned in the storm. She had to loot shops and beg to survive.

In the aftermath of the typhoon, children were the most vulnerable.

In the aftermath of the typhoon, children were the most vulnerable.

"My brother buried his body near the sea and then I started looking for my mother."

But around Tanauan, many more children are alone and homeless.

But around Tanauan, many more children are alone and homeless.

Angela now lives with her neighbour.

Angela now lives with her neighbour.

"So this is your house?

"I dream about my father and sometimes I can feel his spirit.

Elmer lost both of his.

Mariano lost two of his four children.

Mariano lost two of his four children. Elmer lost both of his.

"It seems like the typhoon took everything away from me."

"It seems like the typhoon took everything away from me."

"I wanted to hold her but I couldn’t.

After days of searching, Elmer found his daughter at the morgue.

After days of searching, Elmer found his daughter at the morgue.

"Many times, I wished the waves killed me.

And another for everyone else who suffered.

One for each child he lost.

He always buys three candles.

Elmer visits his daughter’s grave every week. He always buys three candles. One for each child he lost. And another for everyone else who suffered.

“I ask for forgiveness because I feel guilty that I couldn’t save them.”

Many of Tanauan’s residents still live in tents.

Many of Tanauan’s residents still live in tents.

Three estates are under construction.

Three estates are under construction.

"They used to live in small shanties without toilets.

Mayor Pel Tecson says he’s doing what he can to move them into permanent housing.

Mayor Pel Tecson says he’s doing what he can to move them into permanent housing.

But they must help build them.

Survivors are given new homes for free.

Survivors are given new homes for free. But they must help build them.

“We have this slogan in the town, ‘Each new day is a better day in Tanauan’.”

“We have this slogan in the town, ‘Each new day is a better day in Tanauan’.”

At the local sports hall, Mayor Pel is providing cash handouts to help rebuild homes.

At the local sports hall, Mayor Pel is providing cash handouts to help rebuild homes.

"We can turn this crisis into an opportunity to rebuild the town."

Since the storm, Angela has struggled to find somewhere to call home.

Since the storm, Angela has struggled to find somewhere to call home.

She now lives in a hut right on the beach.

She now lives in a hut right on the beach.

"Sometimes, when I swim, I feel like I step on hands, feet and fingers in the sand.

So it’s dangerous to live near the shore.

On average, the Philippines faces 20 storms a year because it sits on a typhoon belt.

On average, the Philippines faces 20 storms a year because it sits on a typhoon belt. So it’s dangerous to live near the shore.

it’s just me and my brother now."

Sometimes I can’t sleep. I wake up in the night and think,

Sometimes I can’t sleep. I wake up in the night and think,

But Angela is back in school, even if it’s just a tent.

But Angela is back in school, even if it’s just a tent.

She often writes letters to her dead parents.

She often writes letters to her dead parents.

"You should come here at five o’clock in the afternoon.

But the town hasn’t forgotten what they’ve lost.

But the town hasn’t forgotten what they’ve lost.

Mayor Pel hopes it will help the community heal.

Mayor Pel hopes it will help the community heal.

"We don’t want them to forget the lessons.

A memorial has been built to remember those who died in Tanauan.

A memorial has been built to remember those who died in Tanauan.

"It will not completely stop, but it will usually mitigate the impact.

A 27km seawall is being constructed along the coastline to protect the community from future storm surges.

A 27km seawall is being constructed along the coastline to protect the community from future storm surges.

"This is our only home, this is our only place."

And some of those that have been built are already falling apart.

But not even a quarter of them are finished.

But not even a quarter of them are finished. And some of those that have been built are already falling apart.

After the storm, the national government promised to build 205,000 new homes across storm-affected areas.

After the storm, the national government promised to build 205,000 new homes across storm-affected areas.

Elmer Labada has remarried and has had two children.

Elmer Labada has remarried and has had two children.

"I know now how hard it is to lose a child.

Whenever he hears a storm is coming, he and his family flee to higher ground.

But he still fears the power of Mother Nature.

But he still fears the power of Mother Nature. Whenever he hears a storm is coming, he and his family flee to higher ground.

The brothers say the economic situation now is worse than when Typhoon Haiyan hit.

"The big companies can build near the sea but the poor, whose livelihood is there, are being chased out."