At least 20 dead as storm wipes out north Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - As of last night Yolanda left 20 people dead in northern Cebu after it hit last Friday.

Seven of the fatalities were from Bantayan town, six from Bogo City, four from Medellin town, two from San Remigio town while another fatality was found floating off Lapu-Lapu City.

Two people were declared missing in San Remigio and Bogo City, and each one in Talisay City and Balamban town.

At least 35 were reported injured in Bogo City and one in San Francisco, Camotes Island.

The seven fatalities were confirmed by Bantayan Mayor Chris Escario based on a report from TV Patrol Central Visayas. However, there was no further information given.

In a separate report, the Philippine Information Agency-7 said the Department of Interior and Local Government-7 reported that six persons died, 35 are injured and two remain missing.

In Medellin, police chief Chief Insp. Fructuoso Lim said casualties were confirmed in barangays of Canhabagat and Curva as of yesterday.

The unidentified bodies of a male and female were found in the mangrove area of Sitio Navarra, Barangay Canhabagat. The female was wearing a yellow shirt and a pair of black shorts and stood about five feet tall. The male was wearing a brown long-sleeved shirt and a pair of floral white shorts and stood about 5’3” tall.

In Barangay Curva a certain Coring Arayata married, of Sitio Ylaya, was also found dead yesterday morning. She was hit and covered by falling debris from her house. Another victim of debris was Justin Gudinez, three years old, of Barangay Kawit.

San Remigio police chief, Chief Insp. Alexander Ancao, said that six fishing vessels sank at the Hagnaya wharf in San Remigio during the typhoon. Two were killed during the incident while two others are still missing.

Out 13 persons who stayed at the wharf with their docked fishing vessel, only eight of them made it to the shore when their vessels capsized.

Casualties were identified as William Villanueva, 41, of Barangay Cabac, Bantayan and the captain of Tessie Alpha-3 fishing vessel Gregorio Mata, who was found 9 a.m. yesterday.

Ancao named those missing as Willy Mahinay, 40 and Danny Negre, 30, both from Barangay Cabac, Bantayan.

“Wala na sila naglawig diha ra sila sa wharf unya pagbali sa ilang gisakyan lumba sila ug langoy, pero upat gyud ang patay,” Ancao said in a phone interview.

Police and other rescue teams are still searching for the two victims.

Ancao further said they are still conducting clearing operations on the national road from Barangay Poblacion to Hagnaya after fallen electricity posts and uprooted trees became obstructions.

In Lapu-Lapu City, two fishermen fished out 60-year-old Rosario Elcarte, of Salinas Pasteur, Lahug, Cebu City. The body was found at the Muelle Wharf yesterday at 6 a.m.

Police said the fatality did not have open wounds and was believed to have been a victim of the typhoon. Police are now coordinating with his family.

Celito Baluntang, of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, a tugboat captain of Cebu Dreams Tugboat, is still missing after he fell from his vessel while he was about to disembark Friday morning at Pier 3 inside the Tsuneishi Heavy Industries in Balamban town.

Also still missing is Manolito Casipong, 30, of Barangay San Isidro was believed to be drunk when he fell into the Mananga River in Barangay Tabunok past noon Friday.

In San Francisco, Camotes, Judy Ann Andrade, 70, of Barangay Poblacion, suffered a fracture in her right arm after she was hit by debris from her house which was crushed by an uprooted tree. She was treated at the Ricardo Maningo Memorial Hospital.

At least 2,121 search and rescue personnel of the Regional Public Safety Battalion-7 are now deployed in the entire Central Visayas to help in the operation.  — /BRP (FREEMAN)