“Queenie” kills 5, destroys houses

CEBU, Philippines - Tropical depression Queenie caused substantial amount of damage in the other parts of the Visayas yesterday and left with at least five people dead and several others missing.

The municipal governments of Duero and Jagna in Bohol province declared a state of calamity, according to the Office of the Civil Defense.

Based on OCD-7’s report on the damage assessment sent by the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council of Bohol, Duero and Jagna were badly affected by Queenie’s strong winds and rain.

In Jagna, 14 coastal barangays were affected by the huge waves that destroyed 36 houses and damaged 281 others.  

Cesario dela Serna, a chief engineer of cargo vessel MV Edward Lawrence, was found dead in Barangay Looc, Jagna Bohol.

Dela Serna, a resident of Liloan town, Cebu, reportedly fell from the cargo vessel that took shelter due to the rough seas. He was reported missing at around 9 in the evening when the ship’s captain conducted a headcount.

Four fishermen from Jagna, Bohol were also reported missing.

One was confirmed dead and several others were missing in Negros Oriental, where damage to infrastructure and homes was estimated to reach millions.

Initial reports from the municipality of Ayungon disclosed that the Tampucon Bridge was destroyed and that maintenance teams from the Department of Public Works and Highways were looking for other passage ways.

Part of Calabnugan Bridge in Sibulan was also damaged by the tropical depression, as well as the dikes constructed along Banica and Okoy rivers.

Philippine National Police provincial director Senior Superintendent Mariano Natu-el Jr. reported that in Tayasan, the police responded to calls for help from families who were trapped in their rooftops due to massive flooding, particularly in sitio Alagasi, Barangay Matoog.

The other barangays that were flooded in Tayasan town were Ilaya, Palaslan, Matoog, Poblacion, Magtuhao and Cabulotan.

The body of Rogin Amarante, 38, a resident of Manjuyod, was found floating off the Zamboanguita seas. Amarante was reportedly with three other fishermen on board a pumpboat from Siquijor to Manjuyod when they were met by big waves.

As of press time, the search for the three other missing fishermen was put on hold due to the bad weather.

On the other hand, Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo expressed relief over the increased awareness of local government units and the public on disaster preparedness, noting the readiness and preparations undertaken by stakeholders a day before the Tropical Depression Queenie cut through Negros Oriental.

In Dumaguete City, government agencies concerned are still conducting a province-wide assessment on the damage of the tropical depression to the city where one security guard was also reported missing.

The Banica River flooded at around 9 a.m. with the spillway overflowing, prompting city officials, through Rescue 348 to seal off traffic, said Syril Repe of the City Information Office.

In the town of Tayasan, at least three casualties were reported including a certain Honeylyn Andales, 25, of Barangay Cambaye.

In Iloilo City, PCG said 296 passengers bound for Cebu City were stranded in Arrastre Pier while another 172 passengers were stranded in Dumangas Port going to Bacolod City and another five passengers in Estancia, Iloilo bound for Masbate province were stranded.

For Central Visayas, PCG-7 Commodore William Melad reported that a total of 53 vessels were not allowed to travel while over 2,000 were stranded and three vessels ran aground.

The vessels were bound for Leyte, Mindanao and other parts in Western Visayas and those travelling between Cebu and Bohol.

Melad said the three vessels that ran aground were MV Eduard Lawrence and MV Eduardo Juan in Jagna, Bohol and MV J and N Carrier in Achela, Bohol.

“These vessels were anchored in their respective ports but ran aground as they were battered with huge waves,” Melad said. – Juancho R. Gallarde, Judy Flores Partlow, Jennifer P. Rendon, Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/ATO (FREEMAN)