7 towns, Toledo city hit; Calamity to be declared

Water world. A boy paddles around his flooded community in barangay Bagakay, Sibonga town. (CDN PHOTO/ TONEE DESPOJO)

At least 5, 000 persons in south Cebu were evacuated when tropical storm Seniang struck early morning yesterday.

Families were forcibly evacuated starting Monday night as flooding incidents were reported in towns of  Sibonga, Dalaguete, Alcantara, Ronda, and Dumanjug in the south, and towns of Tuburan and Balamban and Toledo city in the midwest.

Ehtel Natera, provincial information officer, said relief packs from the Capitol were sent and that emergency aid would be available as the whole province of Cebu would be declared under a state of calamity.

The death toll was initially placed at 12 dead, with five missing, mostly victims of drowning in flood waters, according to  Baltazar Tribunalo, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO).

This includes nine dead in Ronda, one in Moalboal and one in Alegria, all southern Cebu towns, and one in San Francisco, Camotes island in northeast Cebu.

(Cebu Daily News, however, was told by Ronda police that there were 12 fatalities in the town, bringing the total deaths in Cebu to at least 15.)

Broken bridges in Simala, Sibonga town and Malabuyoc disrupted road travel from Cebu city to southern towns. Only light vehicles could pass through Malabuyoc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQt0GutpQuU

Several roadside trees were uprooted, obstructing traff in south Cebu, including a century-old tree in Balamban and a Chinese tree in San Fernando. Town.

Power outages were reported in several southern towns. Light was restored in Alegria and Ronda yesterday afternoon.

In Ronda, one family had four fatalities  – Bienvenido Batongmalaque, 58, Prudencia Ypanto, 89, Francis Tampus, 5, Aaron Camillo, 7.

In the poblacion, a certain “Pewpew” a 35-year-old casual employee of Ronda,  Anabell Yap, 60, and Paul Emerson Lim were confirmed dead.

STUCK. A delivery van washed away by floodwaters in Ronda town is partly buried in mud. (CDN PHOTO/ TONEE DESPOJO)

In barangay Tupas, Junjun Bahinting , 35 and his 8-year-old daughter Joan were found floating near their house.

Fisherman Joel Ostria, 30, was found dead in bangay Sta. Cruz, San Francisco, Camotes, Cebu.

In Alegria town, Francisco Javierto, 70, who was reportedly drunk, fell into the river.

A dead child was found in Moalboal.

TYPHOON SENIANG. Dennis Jimenez checks out his house which was carried away by a flashflood in barangay Bagakay, Sibonga town in south Cebu. (CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)

Neighbors in barangay Tupas, Ronda town recovered bodies  of Evelyn Bahinting, 40, Juvelyn Bahinting, 10, Ace Faunillian (2 months old) and Jean Bahinting, 5.  Joyce Bahinting, 3, is still missing.

The Police Regional Office reported 13 deaths, which included families who were washed away by the flood while they slept in their homes.

Four deaths were reported in Bohol province.

Archie Cambanay,16  and Arjay Brendas 15, of Loon town were electrocuted.

Paula Opay, 60, in Baclayon drowned. Carlo Dapiton in Alicia town was killed by a coconut tree that fell on him.