he takes me through the shattered shell. the mayor and 14 others were here when haiyan struck. the surge devastated the building, six of concrete walls were smashed like tissue paper, he says. then suddenly boom the door bang, the other one door blasted open. water gushed in. reporter: as the waters rose, seven took their chances outside while the mayor and the rest climbed into the ceiling space. here the water was going up. so we had to go all the way in there where we climbed all the way up here. reporter: here. no. we had to move this over here. reporter: and how how high did the water go? almost to the ceiling here. reporter: there they stayed until it was safe. all 14 survived. but how when so many perished around them? you re just free.
sea. he takes me through the shattered shell. the mare and 14 others were here when haiyan struck. another concrete wall there. reporter: the surge devastated the building. 6 inch concrete walls were smashed like tissue paper, he says. boom, the door, bang, the other door blasted open. water gushed in. reporter: as the water rose seven took their chances outside while the mayor and the others inside climbed into the ceiling space. the water was going up. so we had to go all the way in there. we climbed all the way up here. reporter: here? no. we had to move, just over there. reporter: and how high did the water go? almost to the ceiling. reporter: and there they stayed until it was safe. all 14 survive. but how? when so many perished around