What Queenie did to Regions 6, 7?

CEBU, Philippines - At least four casualties and a number of missing persons were reported in Negros Oriental, one died and four were missing in Bohol, while a fisherman went missing in Negros Occidental when storm Queenie struck Central and Western Visayas the other day.

Mayor Susano Ruperto, Jr. of Tayasan town in Negros Oriental said the three fatalities in his town were a mother, Honeylyn Andales, 25, and her two children who were swept away by flashfloods at a tributary in Barangay Cambaye, about seven kilometers upland from the highway.

Ruperto said a fisherman was also reported missing, but his three companions who went out with him at sea were able to return home. Other missing persons were a security guard in Ayungon town and three fishermen in Zamboanguita town, all in Negros Oriental.

Police said a man, identified as Rogin Amarante, 38, of Manjuyod town was also reported found floating off Zamboanguita after his motorboat capsized off Siquijor. He was with three other fishermen.

More than 2,000 people were evacuated from river banks in Dumaguete City and Tayasan town as Queenie sliced across Negros Oriental, bringing heavy rains that caused flooding in many areas in the province.

A number of persons were reported missing in some parts of the province as authorities continued to search for them even after the storm had already passed and was on its way to Palawan by mid-morning yesterday.

In Dumaguete City, around 1,200 people from at least 14 villages were transferred to temporary shelters after Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria ordered a pre-emptive evacuation as early as 8 a.m. Thursday. Majority of those evacuated lived along the banks of the Banica River and flood-prone areas.

In Tayasan town, at least 700 people were evacuated to higher grounds after four big rivers overflowed, one of which spilled over to the roads, said Mayor Ruperto.

At the height of Queenie on Thursday, power was cut off in several parts of the province, particularly in the central and northern portions due to felled posts and trees and a trip-off of the Amlan 69kV line.

Accessibility to the northern part of Negros Oriental has been cut off after a detour bridge in Ayungon collapsed. Flooding was also reported in the nearby towns of Sibulan, Bacong and Valencia. Three houses were also reportedly washed out by floods in Valencia although no casualty was reported by then.

The provincial government could not yet give an initial assessment of the damage brought by Queenie, while Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria also acknowledged that the city’s residents are now more educated and has increased awareness on disaster preparedness. He attributed the minimal damage left Queenie to the city’s disaster preparedness and mitigating measures.

In Jagna town of Bohol, municipal official Gerry Araneta said Desario dela Serna, chief engineer of the cargo ship Edward Lawrence-Cebu that ran aground near the port, died although it was not immediately known what caused his death. Araneta said four other men were reported missing at the height of the storm.

Bohol authorities reported that storm surge, as high as 10 feet, and a runoff flooded some highways as far as 100 meters inland, destroying many houses and infrastuctures, and causing three cargo ships to run aground. Rosario Acero, owner of two fishing boats destroyed by the storm, said she never saw such big waves before in her life.

An international Indian cargo ship, docked at a private wharf of the Philippine Mining Service Corporation in Garcia-Hernandez town, ran aground due to big waves.

Araneta said 36 houses were totally destroyed and 281 partially damaged in 14 barangays in his town, prompting the Municipal Council, chaired by Vice Mayor Bonifacio Virtudes Jr, to declare Jagna town under a state of calamity.

In Tagbilaran City, a blackout ensued when Queenie struck at past 1 a.m. Thursday, but power was restored yesterday morning, except in some areas where clearing works of toppled trees had to be done first before re-installing power lines.

In Negros Occidental, a fisherman, 54-year-old George Tomanyog of Silay City, went missing while another one was injured but was rescued when his fishing boat capsized off Pulupandan town.

The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office reported that a total of 100 houses were destroyed while 300 others were damaged by Queenie in the 17 barangays of four local government units in the province, affecting 1,725 persons or 430 families.

In Cauayan town, 90 houses were destroyed while 292 others were damaged, affecting 1,528 people or 382 families in 10 barangays. In Kabankalan City, a total of 37 families in five villages, destroyed two houses and damaged five others. In Binalbagan town, seven houses were destroyed and three others were damaged.

The Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council is still assessing the extent of damage and attending the needs of affected families. Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. assured financial help to the victims. — Judy Flores Partlow, Ric V. Obedencio and Marchel P. Espina (FREEMAN)