Typhoon “Seniang” (international name: “Jangmi”) made a final salvo
before 2014 ended, with police officials saying at least 59 people died
as the weather disturbance unleashed its fury in the Visayas and
Mindanao.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC)
reported one tornado, 15 flash flood, and 12 landslides as “Seniang”
swept across Visayas and Mindanao.
The most casualties were in Catabalogan City in Samar where at least
19 people died due to a landslide in a residential area in Barangay
Mercedes on Tuesday. Supt. Carlito Abriz, chief of police of Catbalogan
City, said the landslide was brought by the heavy rains which have been
pounding Eastern Visayas for several days now. Over 20 other residents
were injured.
In Leyte, at least 16 deaths were reported in various areas in the
province, mostly due to landslides and drowning caused by flashfloods.
These were: Five people who died in a landslide in Tanauan town; four
others in another landslide in Mahaplag; town, four who drowned in the
towns of Abuyog, Alvera, and Burauen; and three cases of electrocution
in Dulga, Inopacan, and Baynay City.
Catbalogan landslide
In Catbalogan City, Samar, 19 bodies have been recovered from the
landslide that buried six houses and two vans in Barangay Mercedes.
Among those killed were seven children, aged 5-8.
In the province of Leyte 16 people were reported killed, including
five people who were buried alive in a landslide that struck Barangay
Cabuynan, Tanuan town and four others in another landslide at Mahaplag
town. The other fatalities, who either died of electrocution or
drowning, were reported in the Abuyog, Alvera, Buraen, Dulag, Inopacan,
and Baybay City, police said.
In Cebu, authorities reported 14 deaths, including 12 people whose
house was swept by raging floodwaters in Ronda town. The two other
victims were a child who drowned in Alantara town and a fisherman who
drowned at sea off San Francisco town.
Three were reported dead in Bohol due to electrocution and drowning,
while two people died in Bukidnon due to drowning after being hit by a
falling tree.
A 10-year-old boy was killed in a landslide in Butuan City, while
four other drowning victims were reported in Compostela Valley, Misamis
Oriental, and Agusan del Norte provinces.
Relief operations
NDRRMC Executive Director Alexander Pama said relief operations are
ongoing in areas where Seniang passed through.The storm destroyed 218
houses and damaged 681 others.
The NDRRMC said only 290 passengers remained stranded in seaports due to bad weather as of noon time yesterday.
Philippine Air Force (PAF) personnel responded to the call of duty as
Seniang battered Central Visayas. The PAF 2nd Air Division based in
Brig. Gen. Benito Ebuen Air Base (Mactan Air Base) has been conducting
humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations at Loboc,
Bohol, since Dec. 30.
In Palo, Leyte, the Tactical Operations Group 8 (TOG) at Tacloban,
Leyte, deployed one Disaster Response Team (DRT) led by SSgt. Rodrigo
Cutamora, Jr. with one M-35, one rubber boat, life vests, and assorted
rescue equipment, as coordinated by the Deputy Group Commander, Capt.
Jerry T. Malana.
The team evacuated more than 50 individuals, including infants and
aged persons, who were stranded on rooftops to an evacuation center in
Palo town.
Two C-130s from Villamor Air Base brought in relief goods to Tagbilaran, Bohol.
PAGASA report
“Seniang” weakened from a tropical storm to a tropical depression as
it left the country’s landmass yesterday morning, according to the
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services
Administration (PAGASA).
PAGASA said stormy weather will prevail over Palawan until New Year, while sea conditions will be rough to very rough.
Meanwhile, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon, Albay, Sorsogon,
Catanduanes, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Masbate, Oriental Mindoro,
Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Aklan, Antique, Negros
Occidental, Capiz, Guimaras, and Iloilo will have cloudy skies with
light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms.
Metro Manila, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac,
and Zambales will have cloudy skies with light rains, while the rest of
the country will have generally fair weather except for some isolate d
rain showers or thunderstorms.
