7 hurt, over 19,000 affected by Aghon —NDRRMC

Seven people were reported injured while over 19,000 were affected by Typhoon Aghon, the first tropical cyclone to hit the country this year, disaster officials said Monday.

In its update, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) the 19,373 affected persons, or 8,465 families, were from four regions.

Aghon also displaced 5,343 persons, many of them staying in the 81 evacuation centers that the government has set up.

The cyclone also caused flooding in 13 areas in Mimaropa and Eastern Visayas regions, and damaged 22 houses, four of them totally.

Meanwhile, floods, landslide, and power outages were reported in different parts of the country amid the onslaught of Tropical Cyclone Aghon, according to Unang Balita reports.

In Quezon, many houses were almost submerged in floodwater in Barangay Market View, Lucena City; coastal barangays in Mauban; and Barangay Del Pilar in Lopez, according to GMA Regional TV Balitang Southern Tagalog’s Denise Abante.

Some boats were also damaged by the strong waves.

In the town of Sariaya where Aghon made a landfall on Sunday, water in fields overflowed and entered houses. A farmer tried to rescue his carabao using a makeshift raft made of banana trees.

Authorities, meanwhile, blamed the floods in Pagbilao and Lucena towns to clogged drainages.

In Catanduanes, the Kanparel detour bridge collapsed due to the strong current of flash flood on Sunday evening, prompting authorities to close the bridge.

In Batangas, some residents evacuated to barangay halls and schools amid the strong winds, heavy rains, and floods in San Juan town, according to a separate report by Denise Abante. Some trees also collapsed and blocked roads.

Power outages were also reported after some electric posts fell.

Barangay Mabalanoy chairman Joseph Ryan Sentales advised residents to avoid going outside of their homes due to the threat of metal roofs flying off during the onslaught of Aghon.

In Laguna, motorists were stranded on a national highway in Bay town as floods reached waist-deep, according to Mav Gonzales' report. Some motorcycle riders were forced to walk across the flood.

In Calauan, Laguna, water in some fields also overflowed and reached some houses. In Pagsanjan, some residents were advised to evacuate after the water level in the river exceeded the normal level.

In Aurora, a landslide was reported in Baler blamed on the saturation of the ground caused by continuous rainfall, according to the police.

In Dilasag town also in Aurora, motorists were stranded after a river overflowed. In Dinalungan, some fishermen kept their boats on the coast as the local government prohibited them from fishing. —KBK, GMA Integrated News