WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama says he and his wife, Michelle, are "deeply saddened" by the deaths and damage caused by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines this weekend.

Obama says the United States is providing "significant" humanitarian assistance and is prepared to further assist relief and recovery efforts.

Haiyan struck the eastern seaboard of the Philippines on Friday and quickly barrelled across its central islands, packing winds that gusted up to 274 kilometres per hour. The death toll has climbed into the thousands, and about 4 million people were affected by the storm.

Obama praised the Philippine people for their "incredible resiliency."