2 die as ‘Seniang’ sweeps through Mindanao
TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte – Two persons were killed, another was reported missing, and 17 others were hurt in accidents related to the passage of Tropical Storm Seniang, authorities said Monday.
On Sunday, 65-year-old Cipriano Mik Sr. was swept by rampaging waters as he tried to cross the swollen Naboc River in Monkayo, Compostela Valley, in search of feed for his swine, according to Joan Pintal, Monkayo information officer.
Mik’s body was recovered a few hours later.
In Compostela town, 24-year-old Chris Retiza fell into the swollen Agusan River as he was trying to gather coconuts on the riverbank, according to Compostela Valley disaster response officer Raul Villocino.
In Tagum City, authorities said rains brought by Seniang caused roads to be slippery. A bus skidded and fell into a ditch in Barangay Canocotan on Sunday afternoon, killing one person and injuring 17 others, according to Senior Supt. Samuel Gadingan, Davao del Norte police director.
Insp. Cosme Masepequiña, Tagum City traffic chief, identified the fatality as Emelita Marquez, 49, whose family owns the Gold FM Radio in Tagum City.
As Seniang made landfall in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, on Monday morning, floods inundated various areas in Compostela Valley. Traffic was cut between various towns as water from swollen rivers swamped the highways, Villocino said.
At least 100 families fled to safety in the towns of Monkayo, Compostela, Nabunturan, New Bataan and Montevista, he added.
Villocino said two landslides were reported in Barangays San Jose and Mt. Diwalwal in Monkayo, destroying or damaging over a dozen homes, but causing no injuries.
Moderate to heavy and occasionally intense rains were also experienced in neighboring Davao del Norte, and major rivers such as Saug and Libuganon showed increasing water levels, the provincial disaster risk reduction management council said.
At least 63 families were evacuated to an elementary school due to knee-deep flooding in Mesaoy village in New Corella, the Davao del Norte provincial risk reduction management council reported on Monday.
The villages of Sagayen, Napungas, Camansa, Sta. Felomina and Buclad, all in Asuncion municipality, were flooded, according to the provincial disaster council.
Reden Cardinal, Davao del Norte disaster action officer, said they were still consolidating data on the number of communities affected by the floods in the province.
Tropical Storm Seniang came ashore over Barangay Bakulin in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, early Monday morning, increasing the risk of floods and landslide in Caraga region and areas of Mindanao, where storm signal No. 1 had earlier been raised, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said.
Pagasa warned small boats against going out to sea as the storm, which packed winds of up to 65 kilometers per hour gusting up to 80 kph, could churn up waves of up to five meters high.
Pagasa said with an estimated heavy to intense rainfall of 15 to 30 millimeters per hour within its area of circulation, which had a diameter of 300 km, Seniang was expected to bring floods to the low-lying areas of Leyte, Southern Leyte, Camotes Island, Cebu, Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental in the Visayas; and Dinagat Province, Compostela Valley, northern part of Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental and Zamboanga del Norte.
Pagasa said the risk of flooding was worsened by the slow movement of Seniang at 11 kph.
The tropical storm was moving toward northwest Mindanao and was expected to be 95 kilometers northwest of Cagayan de Oro City by Tuesday.
On Wednesday morning, it was expected to be 170 kilometers from Dipolog City as it moves toward Palawan, Pagasa said.
On Thursday morning, Tropical Storm Seniang would be 180 kms southeast of Puerto Princesa City as it exits the Philippines, Pagasa added.
Public storm warning signal number 2 was raised over Bohol, Siquijor, Southern Cebu, Negros Oriental, southern parts of Negros Occidental, Surigao del Norte, Siargao Island, Agusan del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Camiguin and Agusan del Sur.
These areas are expected to experience stormy weather with heavy to intense rains with residents in low-lying and mountainous areas alerted for flashfloods and landslides.
Leyte, Southern Leyte, Camotes Island, rest of Cebu, rest of Negros Occidental, Guimaras, northern part of Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, Compostella Valley and Dinagat Province have been placed under public storm warning signal number 1.
Pagasa said these areas would see heavy rains with occasional gusty winds. Residents in low-lying and mountainous areas were advised against possible flashfloods and landslides.
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