‘Seniang’ toll: Eight missing, 55 killed

MANILA, Philippines—The number of persons reported missing in the aftermath of Tropical Storm “Seniang” (international name “Jangmi”) rose to eight as the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Saturday morning placed the official death toll at 55.

The NDRRMC report on the effects of “Seniang,” which hit the country last week, said that Argie Amoy, 20, of Kinabjangan, Nasipit, Agusan del Norte, was reported missing along with Juana Tambi, 39, of Anteguera, Bohol, and two-month-old Ace Faunillan, three-year-old Joyce Bajenting, Jerby Caday and Maribel Caday, all of Ronda, Cebu.

Also still unaccounted for were seven-year-old Kiarah Kristy Tangcuran of Sitio San Antonio, Impasug-ong, Bukidnon, and Raymond Olavere Capon of Cabadbaran City.

The official death toll was placed at 55 after Macaria Revilla, 66, of Barangay Tubod, Sibonga, Cebu, was added to the list.

Most of the 55 fatalities were from Eastern Visayas, particularly the provinces of Samar and Leyte which were hit by landslides. The 29 who were killed in the region suffocated in the landslides in Baybay City, Mahaplag and Tanauan, Leyte, and Catbalogan, Samar.

Fatalities from the Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and the Davao and Caraga regions either drowned in floods or died from electrocution.

Likewise, the NDRRMC said, Seniang partially damaged 2,267 houses and destroyed 455 others in eight affected regions.

Damage to agriculture in Agusan del Sur was placed at nearly P2.8 million, while Barangay Cabacungan in Claveria, Misamis Oriental, reported 11 hectares of rice and corn fields destroyed, costing almost P900,000. Damage to the national highway in Gingoog City, which connects to Butuan City, was estimated at P20 million.

Compostela Valley reported 288 hectares of corn fields damaged by the storm, amounting to over P1.2 million.

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