U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday called his Philippine counterpart Benigno Aquino III to affirm U.S. support for his country's relief efforts in the wake of a devastating attack by Super Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan).

Obama expressed his 'deep condolences' for the lives lost and damage caused by Yolanda, one of the strongest storms to ever hit land, the White House said in a statement.