TACLOBAN CITY, Jan. 3 (PNA) – Death toll from landslides and flooding due to storm Seniang has climbed to 33 as of late Friday afternoon, the Department of Health (DOH) Eastern Visayas regional office reported.
Adding to the list were two persons who drowned in the towns of Palo and Burauen, Leyte province and a recovered body from landslide site in Catbalogan City in Samar.
Drowned victims died on Dec. 30, but it was only reported to health authorities Friday afternoon.
DOH assistant regional director Paula Paz Sydiongco said that Samar has the most number of deaths at 21. The number increased after rescuers retrieved a body of an unidentified landslide victim in Mercedes village, Catbalogan City.
“Ongoing retrieval operation is being done at the landslide area in Catbalogan, Samar to find the two missing persons believed to be buried alive,” Sydiongco said.
Of the 33 deaths due to storm Seniang’s heavy downpour, 21 were from Catbalogan City; five from Tanauan, Leyte; four from Mahaplag, Leyte, and one each from Baybay City, Palo and Burauen in Leyte.
All victims were killed by landslide except the two from Palo and Burauen towns who perished due to massive flooding. The storm has injured at least 22 persons in Eastern Visayas. (PNA)
LAM/SQMENIANO/JSD
