Several Filipinos living in Malta are still trying to contact their families back home to see if they survived the devastating typhoon that is estimated to have killed more than 10,000, with the death toll expected to rise.

“Some people cannot get through to their families because the typhoon destroyed networks and poles, making communication difficult,” said Filomenita Hoegsholm, whose family live in the devastated country.

On Friday the Philippines was hit by typhoon Haiyan that has been described as one of the most powerful storms on record. It barrelled into the eastern coastal provinces of Leyte and Samar and then headed west sweeping through several central Philippine islands.

My parents live on a farm that is still standing but I was told that my sister and brother lost their houses

Officials estimate up to 10,000 people have died in Tacloban city and elsewhere while hundreds of thousands of people were displaced.

International media reported corpses scattered around, some hanging on trees, while looters raided stores in search of vital supplies.

Judy Jover said she had been finding it difficult to contact her family who live in an area hit by the storm. Finally, on Sunday, her sister who lives in Manila sent a Facebook message informing her everyone was alright.

“My parents live on a farm that is still standing but I was told my sister and brother lost their houses. Seeing those images was very sad. I think this was the worst storm ever experienced,” Ms Jover said.

Mr Jover and Ms Hoegsholm, who live in Denmark, are in Malta as part of their work with a women’s organisation called Babaylan.

Babaylan is a word from pre-colonial Philippines which means “wise and just woman”.

Ms Hoegsholm said they planned to help raise funds for the victims of the typhoon who would now need help to rebuild their homes and their lives and to have the bare essentials including food, clothing and water.

The Filipino community in Malta will also be raising funds to help their loved ones back home. Maltese NGO SOS Malta is also helping out and is urging people to donate money to help the people in the Philippines (visit sosmalta.org).

Fr Louis Mallia, from the Missionary Society of St Paul, said on hearing the news on Friday he immediately called his colleagues based in Manila and Batang where the society has a parish church and a formation house.

“I was relieved to hear that they just experienced strong rain, which is something they are used to there,” he said.