BUTUAN
CITY: Thousands of residents moved out from their homes in the five provinces
of Caraga region hurriedly flee Seniang’s fury.
Agusan
del Sur Vice Governor Santiago Cane described Seniang as “strongest storm ever
to hit” his province since.
Saying
the other equally strong tropical storms in the past failed to bring torrential
flood in his house, Seniang did in one setting,
says Cane.
CAAP
office manager Evangeline Babate said all flights today were cancelled, leaving
hundreds of airline passengers stranded and the airport full of marooned vacationers.
The
PDRRMC said Surigao del Sur, where Seniang first hit recorded around 2,428
families or 12,140 individuals evacuated.
Those
evacuated came from the municipalities of Hinatuan, Bayabas, Cagwait,
Carrascal, San Miguel, Lanuza, Marihatag and Tandag City.
Also,
Agusan del Norte PDRRMC officer Erma Suyo said several coastal and lakeside
barangays in Jabonga, Santiago, Kitcharao, Tubay, Magallanes, Nasipit,
Buenavista and Carmen were presently experiencing floods forcing thousands to leave
their homes.
It
was likewise observed in Surigao del Norte that a total of 661 passengers were accounted
stranded in Lipata seaport while there are 85 reported at the Surigao City Port.
Meanwhile,
the DSWD Caraga regional office reported it has prepared 22,000 family food
packs at the Tiniwisan Warehouse here, in addition to the 14,852 family food packs
earlier arranged for strategic areas of Caraga’s five provinces.
Volunteers
and workers have been mobilized for the continuing packing of goods with a
target 30,000 standby family packs, says DSWD Caraga regional information
officer Theresa Barsobia.
A
resident of Ambago, Butuan City, was reported killed when an uprooted tree hit him
as no work in all private and government offices all over Caraga was announced. (WITH REPORTS FROM BEN SERRANO)