‘Seniang’ death toll at 66, 6 missing, P1B in damage

MANILA, Philippines—With the recovery of the body of Juanita Tambis, 37, of Antequera, Bohol, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) raised the death toll from Tropical Storm “Seniang” to 66 and lowered the number of the missing to six. Tambis had been swept away and drowned in a flash flood.

Belated reports of deaths in Western Visayas and the provinces of Cebu, Leyte, Samar and Agusan del Sur also raised the number of fatalities.

Damage to agriculture and infrastructure caused by Seniang (international name: Jangmi) has breached P1 billion, according to the NDRRMC.

The NDRRMC said that as of Saturday morning, the regions of Mimaropa, Western, Eastern and Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao and Caraga, which were hardest hit by Seniang, reported damage to agriculture of around P719 million.

Meanwhile, damage to infrastructure in the seven regions and Bicol was placed by the NDRRMC at P552.4 million. Nearly 30 roads and 20 bridges remained in states of disrepair in Bicol, Western, Central and Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao and Caraga.

Among the latest reported killed were Romeo Abarracoso, 58, of Barangay Mercedes, Catbalogan, Samar, who died in a landslide; Jun Jun Bahinting, 35, of Ronda, Cebu, who drowned; Emmanuel

Atibagos, 38, of Limburan, Burauen, Leyte; and Francisco Daga, 67, of Congumbang, Palo, Leyte.

Among the fatalities in Agusan del Sur were Pepe Ares, 50, of Barangay San Martin, Prosperidad, who was killed in a landslide, and CJ Florentino, 15, of Barangay 4, San Francisco town, who drowned.

Those who died in Western Visayas were Herman Atay, 40, of Sipalay, Negros Occidental, and Gerard Sumugat, 37, of Barangay Tampalan, Kabankalan City. Jay Dingson, 36, of San Vicente, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental, who had been listed as injured died while being treated after he was electrocuted.

Of the fatalities, 32 died in landslides in Leyte and Samar in Eastern Visayas and 21 drowned in floods in Bohol and Cebu in Central Visayas.