'Seniang' ravages Boracay Island; new typhoon nears RP

At least one boatman was killed and another was injured, while several tourist structures were damaged in Boracay Island, Aklan province, as typhoon "Seniang" practically ravaged the island's tourism industry. State weather forecasters, meanwhile, said one more typhoon is due to pass through Philippine territory this month, but will likely head toward north of the Philippines, near Taiwan or Japan. Pag-asa said a low-pressure area is forming in the North Pacific but will likely head toward Taiwan or southern islands of Japan. Radio station dzBB reported that at least one boatman from Paradise Garden resort in Boracay was killed while another was injured. No other details were immediately available. "Sumentro ito sa Boracay, ang mga kabayanan ng Aklan. Ngayon may isang confirmed na dead at 4 missing pa. Wala kaming communication line, di makalusot from Kalibo to Boracay pero baka ngayon makakalusot." "(The storm hit Boracay and some areas of Aklan. We have at least one confirmed dead and at least four still missing. Our communication lines are down and we cannot communicate between Kalibo and Boracay. Hopefully by today the communications will be back up)," Aklan Gov. Carlito Marquez said in an interview on dzXL radio Monday. Citing initial reports he had received, Marquez said the beach front was "devastated" and the white sand scattered by strong waves and winds brought by "Seniang." He said structures made of native cotillions were washed out, while one-fourth of the local port's roof was blown away and its glass windows shattered. "Ang police station di makontak, walang radio (We cannot contact the police station. Our radio is down)," he said. The entire province of Aklan remained under power blackout. Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) deputy chief Anthony Golez said they are working to normalize the situation Monday. Kalibo Mayor Raymar Reblado said residents in his town had been brought to evacuation centers, as the road between Kalibo and Boracay was cut off due to landslides and fallen trees and electric posts. As of Monday morning, at least six of 15 boatmen initially reported missing had been rescued alive. At least 21 pumpboats bringing tourists from passenger ships to the shores remained missing, dzBB reported. Millions of pesos worth of fishery products were destroyed as "Seniang" heavily damaged fishponds in the province. Six such pumpboats were also destroyed while 28 others were damaged. Some 72 houses at the coastal area were destroyed, though the resorts sustained minor damages. At least 100 families were affected, and 70 of them camped out in the local plaza. Several areas of the island were flooded Sunday but the floods subsided Monday, dzBB reported. - GMANews.TV