7 survive 24 hours in stormy seas off Southern Leyte

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte—Seven passengers of a boat that capsized at the height of Tropical Storm Seniang survived 24 hours in turbulent seas, prompting officials to comment that the survivors had more reason to celebrate the New Year.

Senior Supt. Richard Castañares  of the Limasawa police station and six others, including four teenagers, were washed ashore in Barangay Sto. Rosario, Maasin City in Southern Leyte after a day of floating in heavy seas off Macrohon town, about 40 kilometers away.

The survivors suffered bruises and were brought to the Southern Leyte Provincial Hospital in Maasin City. They were discharged on Wednesday.

The six other survivors were Eusenio Pelino, 31, the boat operator; Charlotte Malunas, 15; Clarisse Malunas, 13; Joanah Juanico, 14; Edna Mae Cabanero, 15; and Lourdes Rogardo, 46.

They had come from Barangay San Isidro in Macrohon where they attended a church function and were heading back home to the island-town of Limasawa when the boat they were riding capsized.

They left Barangay San Isidro around 2 p.m. on Monday despite Southern Leyte being under Signal No. 1 due to Seniang.

The group was expected to arrive round 4 p.m. the same day. But by that time, Insp. Rogwan Rogador received a call from his wife, Lourdes, who was in the boat and  reported being fearful that the boat had lost its way due to heavy rains and waves as big as houses.

As strong winds and waves lashed at the boat, powered by a 16-horsepower engine, the boat capsized.

Quoting accounts of the survivors, Southern Leyte Gov. Roger Mercado  said Senior Supt. Castañares immediately helped Pelino tie the boat with ropes to prevent it from being torn apart by the waves. The passengers held on to the boat as they floated in the sea for 24 hours.

The group was eventually washed ashore. Except for bruises on the hands for holding on to the rope, the seven were unharmed.

One of areas worst hit by Seniang was the village of Mercedes in Catbalogan City in Samar province where 12 people were killed in a landslide.

According to Catbalogan Mayor Stephanie Uy-Tan, the death toll in the village was likely to be higher because operations to retrieve bodies had not been finished as of late Tuesday.

In Butuan City, the Office of the Civil Defense in the Caraga region said 128,794 people were displaced by floods and landslides triggered by Seniang.

Liza Mazo, regional director of OCD-Caraga, said the evacuees are now in 242 shelters in the two Agusan provinces and the two Surigao provinces.

She said electricity in several areas in Caraga had been cut since Monday. With Jani Arnaiz and Joey Gabieta, Inquirer Visayas and Franklin Caliguid and Chris Panganiban, Inquirer Mindanao