3 dead due to ‘Agaton’

AT least three people were killed while several areas in the Visayas and Mindanao experienced flooding due to tropical storm “Agaton.”

According to Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office chief Joseph Rhandy Loy, two men aged 65 and 67 drowned at the height of bad weather in Compostela town while one was reported missing in Monkayo municipality, both in Davao de Oro.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council earlier reported that an 83-year-old man also drowned due to flashflood triggered by heavy rains.

Davao de Oro has been placed under a state of calamity after the floods displaced over 4,600 families.

Loy said the damage brought by “Agaton” to the agriculture sector in the province has already reached P100 million.

Cebu City was also placed under a state of calamity due to “Agaton.”

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama on Sunday declared a state of calamity in the city due to heavy rains brought by the weather disturbance.

Rama said the downpour caused some flooding in the city, with threats of landslides.

The mayor also ordered the suspension of work and classes in Cebu City as a preventive measure.

According to the NDRRMC, some 136,000 individuals were affected by Agaton in Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen, Caraga, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration yesterday said “Agaton” has weakened into a tropical depression but continues to bring rains.

In its 8 a.m. advisory yesterday, PAGASA said “Agaton” was spotted over waters off Tanauan, Leyte, packing maximum sustained winds of 55kph and gustiness of about 75 kph.