Agaton hits Visayas-Mindanao regions; weakens to tropical depression

After its landfall as tropical storm 30 hours ago, weakened Tropical Depression Agaton (international name: Megi) has affected over 86,000 families and left one person dead, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

Latest data from NDRRMC reported 86,515 families or 136,390 individuals in 201 barangays from Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, Caraga, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) were displaced by Agaton.

Of the displaced figures above, 3,717 families or 13,049 individuals were reported to be in 71 evacuation sites, while over 25,485 families are taking shelter with their relatives or friends.

Meanwhile, the sole death report is still subject to validation.

One was reported missing in Region 11, the same location of the casualty report, and two were injured in Region 10.

Furthermore, an estimated P874,000 amount of Agricultural damage was reported in Soccsksargen and BARMM regions.

52 houses were also reportedly damaged in Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and Caraga; three totally and 49 partially.

Weakened state

In its 8 a.m. bulletin, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) announced the relegation of the former tropical typhoon to a tropical depression.

Contemporary PAGASA reports issued Agaton with a maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h and a gustiness of up to 60 km/h.

The center was last located over the coastal waters of Tanauan, Leyte.

Moreover, Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) №2 was lifted in areas where it was formerly issued.

11 areas still under TCWS №1 are as follows:

Luzon

• Southern portion of Masbate (Dimasalang, Palanas, Cataingan, Pio V. Corpuz, Esperanza, Placer, Cawayan)

Visayas

• Eastern Samar
• Samar
• Northern Samar
• Biliran
• Leyte
• Southern Leyte
• Northeastern portion of Cebu (Daanbantayan, San Remigio, Medellin, City of Bogo, Tabogon, Borbon, Sogod, Catmon, Carmen, Danao City, Compostela, Liloan) including Camotes Island
• Eastern portion of Bohol (Getafe, Talibon, Bien Unido, Trinidad, Ubay, San Miguel, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, Mabini)

Mindanao

• Surigao del Norte
• Dinagat Islands

Holy week travels

Furthermore, over a thousand of Holy Week travelers were stranded after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) halted boat trips in Saturday.

As of Sunday noon, the PCG said it monitored some 200 stranded passengers and cargo vessels in Eastern and Central Visayas and 503 passengers, 473 rolling cargos, and a vessel in Bicol Region.

PCG Commandant Admiral Artemio Abu said in a statement, “I instructed district commanders to be present on the ground and oversee the implementation of maximum security measures. They are also responsible for supervising the conduct of regular port monitoring and coastal security patrol in major tourist destinations.”