‘Agaton’ death toll in Eastern Visayas now at 113—police

RISING TOLL Rescue workers on Wednesday carry body bags containing the retrieved remains of victims of a landslide that slammed the village of Bunga in Baybay town, Leyte province, days after heavy rains inundated the town at the height of Tropical Depression “Agaton” (international name: Megi). —AFP

MANILA, Philippines—The total number of deaths in Eastern Visayas due to tropical cyclone “Agaton” has reached 113, the regional police confirmed on Thursday.

Eastern Visayas Regional Police spokesperson Police Colonel Ma. Bella Rentuaya confirmed this to INQUIRER.net, saying their partial report reported 113 deaths as of 11 a.m.

Of the 113 deaths, 81 came from Baybay City, 31 from Abuyog town in Leyte, and one from Motiong town in Samar, according to Rentuaya.

Several villages in Baybay and Abuyog were crushed by rain-induced landslides, which led to the death of its residents.

Rentuaya added that five people in Eastern Visayas remain missing, while 236 people were injured due to the typhoon.

The total number of deaths in Eastern Visayas is much higher than the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) national tally of 76 deaths.

The latest report from NDRRMC said 72 people have died in Eastern Visayas.

NDRRMC media liaison Eleasha Mariano said there was discrepancy since the search, rescue, and retrieval operations are still ongoing.

“Regarding to the number of casualties. SRR ops [are] still ongoing on the ground, we are continuing our coordination with the regional counterparts for the official report,” Mariano told INQUIRER.net.

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