Survivors of Super Typhoon Haiyan prayed for their dead loved ones in the devoutly Catholic Philippines on Wednesday as they commemorated the 10th anniversary of a storm that killed more than 6,000 people. 

Haiyan, one of the strongest storms ever recorded, unleashed winds of up to 315 kilometres (195 miles) an hour and whipped up tsunami-like waves that devastated central islands in the archipelago nation.

Tacloban, the capital of Leyte province, bore the brunt of the storm's fury and was almost totally destroyed by five-metre-high storm surges that crashed over mostly poor coastal communities.  

A decade later, people returned to Tacloban's seaside convention centre -- which was used as an evacuation site during Haiyan -- for a Catholic mass to remember the victims and pay tribute to those who helped rebuild the city. 

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos attended the ceremony along with members of his Cabinet, foreign diplomats and survivors of the storm.

"Ten years have gone by, and yet the memory of this tragedy remains indelible in our hearts and in our thoughts," Marcos told the audience.

He said the Philippines needed to build "stronger and more resilient communities" in the face of climate change, which scientists have long warned is making storms more powerful.

"Be assured that the government is always striving to ensure that such tragedies of this magnitude will be avoided and will be adapted to," he said. 

"We must make climate change a vital component of our national policies."

-- 'Second life' -

Dark grey clouds hung over the city on Wednesday, adding to the sombre atmosphere of the anniversary.

About 6,300 people were killed by Haiyan, and a decade later more than a thousand are still missing. More than four million people were left homeless.

Residents plan to place lit candles along the city's streets in the evening in remembrance of the people lost in the disaster.

Marlon Tano, 56, thought he was going to die during Haiyan when surprising storm surges swamped the building where he had sought shelter. Steel bars on the windows trapped him and others inside.  

"We did not expect the water to enter the building," Tano told AFP on Wednesday as he recalled the traumatic events.

"I was able to rescue maybe six children. I rode a sofa or cabinet that was floating and was able to reach the ceiling."

Tano planned to light candles in his street and "pray for the souls of the Typhoon Yolanda victims", he said, using the Philippines' name for the storm.

Despite the huge loss of life and property, Vicar General Erlito Maraya, who led Wednesday's mass, told the audience at the convention centre "there is life after Yolanda".  

"No wind or water, no matter how strong, can wash our faith away," Maraya said, attributing the resilience of the survivors to their deep religious beliefs.

Emmanuel Corbilla, 63, is among the lucky ones who did not lose any family members in the storm. 

But, as the head of his village, he was encouraging his constituents to attend mass in honour of their neighbours who died, and to light candles for them. 

"We light candles to demonstrate our love for the victims, and also as a gesture of thanks to God for giving us a second life," he said. 

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