Queenie leaves 3 dead in Visayas

MANILA, Philippines - At least three persons died and five others were reported missing yesterday due to floods caused by heavy rains brought by Tropical Depression Queenie that made landfall in Surigao del Sur.

 Alona Baldado died when floodwaters swept her away in Malabuyuc, Cebu, according to Joy Hernandez of the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Central Visayas.

The other fatality was identified as Rosito Gavas, a 66-year-old fisherman from President Carlos Garcia, Bohol, but the cause of death was not stated in the police report.

The third victim was the still unidentified chief engineer of M/V Edward Lawrence who drowned after he was thrown overboard due to strong waves that hit the vessel.

Hernandez said another fisherman identified as Feliciano Looc was reported missing in Oslob, Cebu last Nov. 26 after venturing out to sea despite the big waves.

Four other fishermen were also reported missing in Jagna, Bohol.

“The search and rescue operation of the Oslob disaster team is ongoing,” she said.

Reports from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and field offices showed that Queenie has affected more than 150 families.

NDRRMC said a total of 141 families or 693 persons have been displaced in Northern Mindanao and Caraga regions.

The affected residents were from Misamis Oriental, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Dinagat Islands.

At least eight more families were affected in Cebu, according to the OCD Western Visayas.

NDRRMC said the storm caused the suspension of classes in Cebu, Bukidnon, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Sur.

A total of 2,231 passengers, 35 vessels, 72 rolling cargoes and 18 motor boats have been stranded due to the bad weather.

NDRRMC said the Department of Social Welfare and Development has pre-positioned close to P118 million worth of funds and goods to provide relief to affected areas.

Hundreds of residents were evacuated from their homes in Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur while more than 1,000 passengers in various ports in Caraga were stranded before the storm made landfall.

The Surigao del Sur Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office claimed some 35 families or about 200 individuals were evacuated yesterday in various barangays in Cagwait town.

In Surigao City, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office also claimed that 274 residents were evacuated, according to Surigao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.

Tim Piencenaves of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) in the Nasipit wharf, Agusan del Norte told The STAR that the Cebu City bound passenger ship M/V Butuan and several smaller vessels were not allowed to sail last night.

At the main Surigao City port and at Lipata port, some 700 passengers were stranded, according to port police chief Froilan Caturla.

Meanwhile, 14 domestic flights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminals were cancelled due to the storm.

The Media Affairs Division of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said that PhilExpress cancelled four Manila-Tagbilaran-Manila and Manila-Dumaguete-Manila flights; Zest Air Asia cancelled their two flights from Manila to Tagbilaran and back, Sea Air cancelled two Manila-Tagbilaran-Manila flights, while Cebu Pacific cancelled six Manila-Dumaguete-Manila, Manila-Pagadian-Manila and Manila-Tagbilaran-Manila flights.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II reminded local government units (LGUs) and the local disaster risk reduction council to observe proactive measures whenever weather disturbances hit the country.

Roxas urged the LGUs to make the necessary preparations and take proactive steps after Queenie made landfall on Wednesday.

“In any case, local chief executives should have been already active in preparing their first response,” the DILG chief added.

Authorities also advised local disaster management officials to initiate pre-emptive evacuation, especially for communities considered to be highly vulnerable.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) had prepared a total of 116,815 family food packs amounting to more than P30.7 million for distribution to augment the resources of LGUs affected by Queenie.

Apart from the food packs, the DSWD also set aside almost P7 million in standby funds for the purchase of emergency relief supplies.

The DSWD said it has counted 15 evacuation centers opened by affected LGUs in the region providing temporary shelter to 206 families or 899 persons who fled their homes due to heavy rains and flooding.

 The evacuation centers are located in the towns of San Jose and Dinagat in Dinagat Islands; Socorro and Dapa in Surigao del Norte; and Hinatuan, Cagwit and Bayabas in Surigao del Sur.

DSWD-Caraga director Minda Brigoli said they are closely coordinating with LGUs for the needs of affected families.

The regional office has 12,000 family food packs ready to augment the resources of affected LGUs, and another 16,000 food packs on stockpile.

As of yesterday, the Quick Response Teams of DSWD field offices along the typhoon’s path have been activated and continue to coordinate with LGUs for immediate provision of appropriate assistance to affected families.

More rains

Tropical Depression Queenie will continue to bring rains over the western section of the country until today, the weather bureau reported.

As of 4:30 p.m. yesterday, public storm warning signal no. 1 remained hoisted over Palawan, the Calamian Group of Islands, Cuyo Islands, Bohol, Southern Cebu, Negros Oriental, southern Negros Occidental, Siquijor, Guimaras Island, Iloilo and Antique.

Queenie made landfall in Tandag, Surigao del Sur on Wednesday afternoon then crossed Northern Mindanao and the southern portion of Central and Western Visayas, bringing heavy rains and gusty winds.

Queenie passed by Negros yesterday morning and was spotted over the Panay Gulf at around 10 a.m.

As of 4 p.m., the center of Queenie was located 90 kilometers southeast of Cuyo, Palawan, packing winds of 55 kilometers per hour near the center. It was forecast to move west at 24 kph.

Queenie was expected to move over Palawan last night.

“Light to moderate rains with gusty winds will continue over areas under signal no. 1 until Friday evening,” said Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio.

Aurelio also warned the public against sailing in the seas of Palawan, the Visayas and northern Mindanao due to big waves generated by Queenie.

He said Queenie is likely to gain strength as it moves towards the West Philippine Sea today.

PAGASA said the Bicol region, the rest of Mindanao and the Visayas, and the provinces of Mindoro, Marinduque and Romblon will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms. – With Helen Flores, Rudy Santos, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Rainier Allan Ronda, Evelyn Macairan, Ben Serrano, Jen Ponsaran