Cebu City declares state of calamity due to Agaton

Mayor Mike Rama on Sunday declared a state of calamity in Cebu City due to persistent heavy rainfall brought by Tropical Depression Agaton.

In a Facebook post, Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Chairman Gerardo Carillo said that evacuations efforts are now being conducted in landslide and flash flood areas.

Carillo also advised residents to contact Cebu City Emergency cellphone numbers (63+) 0932-537-7770, (63+) 0947-178-0000, or (63+) 0917-839-9896 for any emergencies.

At 7:30 a.m. Sunday, Agaton made landfall over Calicoan Island in Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

In its 5 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA placed five areas in the Visayas and Mindanao under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2.

As of 6 p.m., the center of Agaton was estimated at 10.9°N, 125.3°E over the coastal waters of Lawaan, Eastern Samar.

It has maximum sustained winds of 75 km/h near the center, gustiness of up to 90 km/h, and central pressure of 998 hPa. — Mel Matthew Doctor/BM, GMA News