Landslides threaten 1,128 Bicol villages as Aghon approaches

INQUIRER FILES

LEGAZPI CITY — As the Bicol region braces for intense rain due to Tropical Depression (TD) Aghon, officials here have identified 1,128 villages from 52 cities and municipalities that are under “moderate” to “very high” threats of landslides.

The Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council met online with the Provincial DRRM offices and Naga City DRRMO to discuss the response plans for Aghon.

READ: Aghon slightly intensifies; 18 areas under Signal no. 1

Gremil Alexis Naz, the Office of Civil Defense Bicol spokesperson, said that the list of susceptible villages presented by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau during the pre-disaster risk assessment will be used by local government units in planning evacuations.

LIVE UPDATES: Tropical Depression Aghon

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), TD Aghon will intensify into a tropical storm on Saturday.

As of 2 p.m. Friday, Pagasa monitored Aghon at 135 km. east, northeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur in Mindanao. INQ