December 31, 2014 – As majority of Filipinos prepared for the coming new year celebration, Typhoon Seniang (Jangmi) battered Eastern Visayas and Northern Mindanao with winds of 65 kph near the center with gusts of 80 kph.

Though relatively weaker than Typhoon Ruby, Typhoon Seniang caused more deaths than the former. Fifty-six were killed, eight were missing and 41 were injured. Widespread flooding and a number of landslides occurred in different towns in Samar, Leyta and Agusan Del Norte.

ADRA joined the emergency response efforts by bringing 500 relief aid on New Year’s Day to the affected families in six barangays in Butuan City and one barangay in the town of Esperanza.

Most of the areas inundated by the heavy rains brought by Seniang were still reeling from the massive devastation caused by Typhoon Ruby earlier in December.

Rescuers were digging for survivors buried inside their houses in a landslide that hit Barangay Mercedes in Catbalogan City, Eastern Samar.

Aside from four confirmed dead in the Catbalogan landslide, the regional Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Eastern Visayas reported that 13 people died in landslides and floods in Leyte. Two drowned in Abuyog and another two in Mahaplag; one was electrocuted in Dulag; one drowned in Baybay, and five died in a landslide in Tanauan.

OCD regional director Blanche Gobenciong reported that two people died from electrocution during heavy rains in Loon town in Bohol.

In Central Visayas, 10 people perished from landslide or from drowning in the widespread flooding that submerged a number of towns and villages in the eastern part of Cebu province.

In Rondo town, several houses were swept away by overflowing river tributaries.

A pump boat coming from Southern Leyte bound for Limasawa, Cebu reportedly capsized last Monday. Its six passengers, including Senior Inspector Richard Castañares, the island town’s police chief, are still missing.

The National Disaster Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that 65-year-old Mik Cipriano, of Barangay Naboc, Monkayo, Compostela Valley, died from drowning.

The NDRRMC added a certain Chris Retiza, 24, of Zone 3 Purok, Poblacion, also of Compostela Valley, went missing after he was swept away by floods.

A total of 27,397 families or 121,737 persons were affected by Seniang in Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao and Davao region.