Officials say Typhoon Haiyan's destruction hampers aid effort [UPDATE] MANILA, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- The Philippines, coping with the Typhoon Haiyan catastrophe, with up to 10,000 people feared dead and massive destruction, was warned about another storm. While Haiyan pummeled Vietnam, causing heavy damage, weather officials said a tropical depression was forecast to make landfall in Surigao del Sur in the Philippines, Tuesday, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported Monday. "Hopefully it will stay that way or weaken after landfall," said Ruthie Manzanilla of Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said, noting that alerts were posted for many provinces. Manzanilla said the storm wouldn't be as strong as Hayian, locally known as Yolanda, the monster typhoon that laid to waste the central Philippines Friday, leveling homes, cutting off communications and destroying transportation routes, making aid delivery and damage assessments difficult, CNN reported. "There are too many people dead," said Richard Gordon, chairman of the Philippine Red Cross. We have bodies in the water, bodies on the bridges, bodies on the side of the road. Tacloban, a city of more than 200,000, was shattered by Haiyan, which brought a surge of water off the Gulf of Leyte. The storm surge flattened entire neighborhoods of wooden houses and tossed ships about as if they were toys. "I have not spoken to anyone who has not lost someone, a relative close to them," said Mayor Alfred Romualdez. We are looking for as many as we can. With gusts topping 155 mph, Haiyan may have been the strongest tropical cyclone in recorded history, but meteorologists said more analysis was needed to confirm whether it set a record. After pummeling the Philippines, the storm lost some of its power as it moved across the South China Sea during the weekend. Early Monday, it hit the coast of northern Vietnam, 2 hours ahead of its forecast landfall, the newspaper Tuoi Tre reported. Authorities evacuated hundreds of thousands of people from vulnerable areas in preparation of Haiyan's arrival. After Haiyan moved through Quang Ninh province, officials reported three people were reported missing. The three were aboard a cargo ship that sank during the storm. Rescuers saved one other crew member, authorities said. Vietnamese officials said the storm destroyed 18 houses, ripped off 525 roofs, sank 16 ships, destroyed two antenna towers, uprooted numerous trees and damaged many acres of crops. The storm moved into China's southern Guang Xi province, where it was predicted to weaken to a tropical depression, Tuoi Tre said. Aid workers said Vietnam likely avoided the level of damage suffered by the Philippines but officials have warned that heavy rains could cause flooding and landslides in northern Vietnam and southern China, CNN said. In the Philippines, officials are trying to establish the level of destruction at Tacloban and elsewhere along Haiyan's path. "It's not just Tacloban, it's all the coastal areas" in the region, Gordon told CNN. On Samar island, where Haiyan made its first of six landfalls as it skipped across the islands, government and aid officials said they're still trying to reach many affected communities, as well as areas on Cebu and Panay islands. The official death toll is 255, national authorities. But because of the storm's destruction, a full accounting its victims will take time. We can give you estimates right now, but none of it will be accurate. Gordon said. Aid on military planes was arriving at Tacloban's airport, which resumed a very limited commercial flight schedule Monday, CNN said. The U.S. Marines, sent to assist in relief efforts, also arrived Monday in Tacloban. "We're working hand-in-hand with the Philippines, both with their armed forces and the national police, and we will help them in their need," said Brig. Gen. Paul Kennedy. But with roads blocked by down trees and power lines, and airports destroyed, relief efforts are challenged logistically, said Praveen Agrawal of the United Nations' World Food Program The lack of food and water has led to looting and the threat by business owners to shoot intruders if necessary, CNN said. Orla Fagan, spokeswoman for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Manila, estimated 9 million people were affected by the storm, Voice of America reported. Fagan said donations and commitments were coming in from Australia, Europe, Turkey, and North America. Besides food and water, she said a major concern was shelter because the Philippines was in its rainy season. She said several countries and humanitarian organizations have contributed money or materials for housing, as well as medical and rescue teams.