Tropical Depression ‘Agaton’ Leaves Hundreds of Barangays Flooded

Floods hit more than 100 barangays in Eastern Visayas and Davao region after tropical depression Agaton brought heavy and non-stop rains over Visayas and Mindanao.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reports this morning that Agaton is barely moving in the Samar-Leyte area. The center of the tropical depression as of 7 AM is in the vicinity of Marabut, Samar (11.2°N, 125.2°E). It has maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 75 km/h, and central pressure of 1,000 hPa.

Director of the Police Regional Office 8 Bernard Banac said he already ordered the deployment of additional policemen and equipment to help in the search, rescue, and retrieval operations and the evacuation of residents in areas affected by flash floods and landslides.

“We already deployed rubber boats, vehicles and other equipment that include handheld radios for these operations,” he said.

Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office head Joseph Rhandy Loy told DZMM Teleradyo that the damage brought by Agaton to properties and the agriculture sector has reached P100 million.