7 survive 24 hours in stormy seas

TACLOBAN CITY—New year, new life.

Seven passengers of a boat that capsized at the height of Tropical Depression “Seniang” survived 24 hours in turbulent seas, prompting officials to comment that the survivors have more reason to celebrate the New Year.

Senior Supt. Richard Castanares, 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 the waters 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.

Aside from Castanares, 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 came from Barangay San Isidro, Macrohon town to attend a church activity and were heading back home to the island-town of Limasawa when the boat they were riding in capsized at the height of Seniang.

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 an hour later around 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 who 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 only a 16-horsepower engine, the boat capsized.

Quoting accounts from the survivors, Southern Leyte Gov. Roger Mercado said Senior Supt. Castanares 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 is 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 is 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 (OCD) 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