Signal No. 1 up in 9 areas as Agaton reaches Samar

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1 remained hoisted over nine areas in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao as of Tuesday morning due to Tropical Depression Agaton, whose center now in the vicinity of Marabut, Samar.

In its 8 a.m. bulletin, state weather bureau PAGASA said the following areas remain under TCWS No. 1:

• the southern portion of Masbate (Dimasalang, Cawayan, Palanas, Placer, Cataingan, Esperanza, Pio V. Corpuz);
• Eastern Samar;
• Samar;
• Northern Samar;
• Biliran;
• Leyte;
• Southern Leyte;
• the northeastern portion of Cebu (Daanbantayan, Medellin, City of Bogo, Tabogon, Borbon, Sogod) including Camotes Island
• Dinagat Islands

PAGASA said these areas have strong winds prevailing or are expected within the next 36 hours that may result in minimal to minor threat to life and property.

20 dead

The reported death toll due to the onslaught of Tropical Depression Agaton has climbed to 20 as of Tuesday morning, most of them in Baybay City in Leyte, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said.

In its 8 a.m. report, the NDRRMC said 14 of the reported fatalities are from Baybay City; three from Negros Oriental; two from Monkayo, Davao de Oro; and one from Cateel, Davao Oriental.

“Mino-monitor po natin yung development ng search and rescue operations na nangyayari diyan sa Baybay, Leyte, matapos po ang ilang mga landslide na naganap,” NDRRMC spokesperson Mark Timbal said on Unang Balita.

(We are monitoring the development of the search and rescue operations in several landslides in Baybay, Leyte.)

“As of the initial information na na-receive natin, meron po tayong 14 na kababayan na napaulat na na-disgrasya at nasawi dahil sa landslide na yan,” he added.

(As of the initial information we received, we have 14 reported deaths due to landslides.)

However, Timbal said the count was not official as they are still waiting for the official documentation on the search and rescue operations in Baybay.

Police in Baybay on Monday said at least 20 people were killed in a landslide caused by persistent heavy rainfall brought by Agaton.

Other effects

In its 8 a.m. report on Tuesday, the NDRRMC said 139,146 people or 95,741 families were affected by Agaton in 274 barangays in Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen, Caraga, and Bangsamoro.

According to the NDRRMC, a total of 91 houses were damaged — 84 partially and seven totally — in Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen, and Caraga, while P874,000 worth of damage in agriculture were reported in Soccsksargen and Bangsamoro, and P250,000 worth of damage in infrastructure were reported in Central Visayas and Northern Mindanao.

The NDRRMC said 286 flooding incidents, 15 landslides, six flash floods, three maritime incidents, and an overflowing river were reported due to Agaton.

At least 37 roads and five bridges were not passable, it also said.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard said a total of 6,949 passengers, drivers, and cargo helpers are stranded in different ports in the Bicol, Visayas and Mindanao regions.

The PCG further noted that 2,066 rolling cargoes, 51 vessels, and one motor banca were also stranded in Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Northeastern Mindanao, Central Visayas, and Western Visayas regions from 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. on April 12.

Meanwhile, there were 73 more vessels and 26 motor bancas that were taking shelter.

Agaton's movement

As of 7 a.m., the center of Agaton was estimated at 11.2°N, 125.2°E in the vicinity of Marabut, Samar, packing maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 75 km/h, and central pressure of 1000 hPa.

PAGASA said Agaton, which is moving slowly eastward, has strong winds or higher that extend outwards up to 150 km from the center.

Rainfall

PAGASA said moderate to heavy with at times intense rains will be experienced over Eastern Visayas, Bicol Region, the northern and central portions of Cebu, including Bantayan and Camotes Islands, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, Antique, Guimaras, and the northern and central portions of Negros Provinces.

Meanwhile, MIMAROPA, Dinagat Islands, Zamboanga del Norte, Quezon, and the rest of Visayas will experience light to moderate with at times heavy rains.

The seas will be rough (2.8 to 4.0 m) in the next 24 hours over the seaboards of areas under TCWS No. 1. Sea travel may be risky for most seacraft.

As for areas in the rest of the country that are not under any TCWS, coastal waters will be moderate to rough (1.2 to 3.7 m), which may be risky for small seacraft.

Track, intensity

Agaton is expected to continue meandering in the vicinity of Samar-Leyte area within the next 6 to 12 hours before turning more east southeastward towards the Philippine Sea beginning Tuesday night or Wednesday morning, according to PAGASA.

Agaton is also seen to deteriorate into a remnant low within the next 24 hours due to the combined effects of land interaction, increasing vertical wind shear, and the effects of the upper-level outflow of Severe Tropical Storm Malakas.

The remnant of Agaton will then continue tracking generally eastward over the Philippine Sea as it becomes assimilated within the circulation of Malakas.  —KBK/RSJ, GMA News