1st Typhoon of the year: ‘Agaton’ leaves 34 dead

 Landslide forces road closure in Talisay City

The death toll from floods and landslides in the Visayas and Mindanao triggered by a low pressure area which has developed into tropical depression “Agaton” has risen to 34, officials said.

Agaton is expected to continue bringing moderate to occasional heavy rains and thunderstorms to Eastern and Central Visayas.

Pagasa forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said the typhoon developed yesterday morning but that the weather would gradually improve by Sunday in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Talisay landslide

In Cebu, the Manipis Road in Talisay City was ordered closed after a landslide occurred due to five days of continuous rain.’

The road is a major route between Metro Cebu and Toledo city in the west coast.

The landslide occurred in barangay Campo 5 at 9 a.m. yesterday. Two big rocks fell from the mountain blocking the Cebu-Toledo Wharf Road on Manipis Road.
District Engineer Daisy Toledo of the Department of Public Works and Highways said that about 60 meters of soil and rocks fell from the mountains.

Motorists who insist on driving through the pile of soil and rocks will just put their lives in danger.
She said that the area will only be completely cleared on Sunday. She advises motorists to take the National Highway via Naga City to get to Toledo City and for those who also want to get to Talisay City.

 
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said 65 people were reported injured while seven remained missing in the Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao and in Caraga regions.

 
Pagasa said Agaton is expected to be 40 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur on Saturday morning and will be at 13 kilometers northeast of Davao City on Sunday.
Pagasa raised public storm Signal No. 1 in Surigao del Norte including Siargao Island, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat Province, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Davao Oriental and Compostella Valley.

 
The DENR Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) in Central Visayas has advised local government units to be vigilant of possible landslides and flooding as a result of heavy rains.
According to MGB regional director Loreto Alburo, residents in communities near a river and at the slopes of mountains are very susceptible to landslides and floods.

 
“Areas which have been declared as highly susceptible to flooding and landslides by the MGB should be carefully monitored by the local government officials,” he said.

 
Alburo said MGB has completed the geohazard assessment and mapping throughout the country and has already distributed geohazard maps to all local government units.

He urged local chief executive officials to make use of the geohazard maps and implement the necessary measures to reduce the impact of landslides and flooding within their areas of responsibility.