‘Seniang’ leaves 3 dead
‘Seniang’ leaves 3 dead
By James Mananghaya
The Philippine Star 12/11/2006
Disaster officials said nearly 60,000 people left their homes in Albay for fear of another deadly mudslide from Mayon volcano. A rain-triggered avalanche of mud and ash from Mayon at the height of typhoon "Reming" on Nov. 30 left close to 2000 people dead or missing. Seniang was barely felt in Cebu, where two major regional summits had been postponed due to the typhoon.
The government postponed the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and East Asia summits to January next year due to typhoon worries, but some quarters believe a looming political unrest was behind the decision.
As of 4 p.m. yesterday, Seniang was at 90 kilometers northwest of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, with winds of 120 kph near the center and gustiness of about 150 kph.
Anthony Golez, deputy administrator of the Office of Civil Defense, said only the villagers living in hazardous areas such as near waterways or mountains were evacuated.
Details on the casualties were sketchy, but one was believed to have died in Tacloban City where two others were reported injured. In Tanauan, Leyte, a man suffered injuries after being hit by a falling tree.
An NDCC bulletin said 8,292 passengers were stranded in various ports in Regions V, VI, VII and VIII.
Region VIII, except Southern Leyte, remained without power. Bantayan Island and the rest of the northern part of Cebu, particularly the towns of Liloan, Compostela, Carmen, Catmon, Bogo, San Remegio, Tudela, Camotes Island and Danao were without electricity as of yesterday.
As heavy rains lashed the Bicol region yesterday, families huddled in schools and churches serving as evacuation centers, sleeping on mats and cardboard sheets laid upon concrete floors.
Some of those evacuated were allowed to return home but others were told to stay in the evacuation centers due to fears the continuing rains would result in new mudslides. The massive mudslides buried whole towns.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Seniang did not bring much rains and winds to Cebu City, and in fact had already weakened considerably when it hit the city on its way to Bantayan Island.
Chief weatherman Nathaniel Cruz said Seniang only brought about 55 millimeters of rain in the city compared to the more than 100 millimeters in other areas affected by the typhoon.
He declined to say whether the summits would have been successful had organizers pushed through with it today.
Seniang forced the cancellation of some domestic flights of Philippine Airlines, Southeast Asian Airlines (SeaAir), Cebu Pacific Airways, Air Philippines, and Asian Spirit. SeaAir said it will resume flights today to accommodate those affected by the cancellation of flights last Sunday.
Alfonso Cusi, Manila International Airport Authority general manager said no international flights were affected by Seniang. He said he expects domestic air traffic to normalize today.
Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said that based on the weather bureau’s advice there will be regular classes today except in areas still reeling from the effects of Reming. Classes in these areas will resume in January.
Storm signal No. 3 (100-185 kph winds) was still hoisted over southern Occidental Mindoro, southern Oriental Mindoro and the Calamian Group of Islands.
Storm signal No. 2 (60-100 kph winds) was up over the rest of Mindoro, Romblon, Aklan, Antique and the islands of Lubang and Cuyo.
While signal No. 1 (30-60 kph winds) was in force in Masbate, Sorsogon, Albay, Burias Island, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Marinduque, Batangas, southern Quezon, Laguna, Cavite, Bataan, Metro Manila, Iloilo, Guimaras, Capiz, and northern Palawan.
Seniang was seen at 250 kms northwest of Coron this morning. By tomorrow morning Seniang will be over the South China Sea. Seniang is the 19th weather disturbance to hit the country this year. With Helen Flores, Rainier Allan Ronda, AFP, AP
By James Mananghaya
The Philippine Star 12/11/2006
Disaster officials said nearly 60,000 people left their homes in Albay for fear of another deadly mudslide from Mayon volcano. A rain-triggered avalanche of mud and ash from Mayon at the height of typhoon "Reming" on Nov. 30 left close to 2000 people dead or missing. Seniang was barely felt in Cebu, where two major regional summits had been postponed due to the typhoon.
The government postponed the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and East Asia summits to January next year due to typhoon worries, but some quarters believe a looming political unrest was behind the decision.
As of 4 p.m. yesterday, Seniang was at 90 kilometers northwest of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, with winds of 120 kph near the center and gustiness of about 150 kph.
Anthony Golez, deputy administrator of the Office of Civil Defense, said only the villagers living in hazardous areas such as near waterways or mountains were evacuated.
Details on the casualties were sketchy, but one was believed to have died in Tacloban City where two others were reported injured. In Tanauan, Leyte, a man suffered injuries after being hit by a falling tree.
An NDCC bulletin said 8,292 passengers were stranded in various ports in Regions V, VI, VII and VIII.
Region VIII, except Southern Leyte, remained without power. Bantayan Island and the rest of the northern part of Cebu, particularly the towns of Liloan, Compostela, Carmen, Catmon, Bogo, San Remegio, Tudela, Camotes Island and Danao were without electricity as of yesterday.
As heavy rains lashed the Bicol region yesterday, families huddled in schools and churches serving as evacuation centers, sleeping on mats and cardboard sheets laid upon concrete floors.
Some of those evacuated were allowed to return home but others were told to stay in the evacuation centers due to fears the continuing rains would result in new mudslides. The massive mudslides buried whole towns.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Seniang did not bring much rains and winds to Cebu City, and in fact had already weakened considerably when it hit the city on its way to Bantayan Island.
Chief weatherman Nathaniel Cruz said Seniang only brought about 55 millimeters of rain in the city compared to the more than 100 millimeters in other areas affected by the typhoon.
He declined to say whether the summits would have been successful had organizers pushed through with it today.
Seniang forced the cancellation of some domestic flights of Philippine Airlines, Southeast Asian Airlines (SeaAir), Cebu Pacific Airways, Air Philippines, and Asian Spirit. SeaAir said it will resume flights today to accommodate those affected by the cancellation of flights last Sunday.
Alfonso Cusi, Manila International Airport Authority general manager said no international flights were affected by Seniang. He said he expects domestic air traffic to normalize today.
Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said that based on the weather bureau’s advice there will be regular classes today except in areas still reeling from the effects of Reming. Classes in these areas will resume in January.
Storm signal No. 3 (100-185 kph winds) was still hoisted over southern Occidental Mindoro, southern Oriental Mindoro and the Calamian Group of Islands.
Storm signal No. 2 (60-100 kph winds) was up over the rest of Mindoro, Romblon, Aklan, Antique and the islands of Lubang and Cuyo.
While signal No. 1 (30-60 kph winds) was in force in Masbate, Sorsogon, Albay, Burias Island, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Marinduque, Batangas, southern Quezon, Laguna, Cavite, Bataan, Metro Manila, Iloilo, Guimaras, Capiz, and northern Palawan.
Seniang was seen at 250 kms northwest of Coron this morning. By tomorrow morning Seniang will be over the South China Sea. Seniang is the 19th weather disturbance to hit the country this year. With Helen Flores, Rainier Allan Ronda, AFP, AP
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