‘Aghon’ damage to agriculture pegged at P21 million

TO SAFETY Rescuers from the Quezon Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, along with members of the Philippine Air Force, arrive at Barangay Kanlurang Mayao in Lucena to help residents evacuate the flooded village on Sunday following the onslaught of Typhoon “Aghon.” —PHOTO COURTESY OF QUEZON PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

Typhoon “Aghon” (international name: Ewiniar) caused an estimated P21 million in agricultural losses, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Thursday. The first typhoon of the year left the Philippine area of responsibility on Wednesday, also leaving behind P448,300 worth of damage to livestock, poultry and fisheries, in addition to 292.9 hectares of farmland. A total of seven people were reported killed but only one death has been confirmed by the NDRRMC so far. Eight people were also injured, while overall, a total of 51,858 people, or 16,404 families, were affected by Aghon, most of them in the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon provinces) and Bicol regions. — FRANCES MANGOSING