‘Agaton’ leaves 34 dead in Mindanao

MTSAT ENHANCED-IR Satellite Image 11 a.m., 17 January 2014

MANILA, Philippines—The death toll from floods and landslides in Mindanao triggered by a low pressure area and now tropical storm “Agaton” has risen to 34, the National Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Friday.

The NDRRMC said 65 people were reported injured while seven remained missing in the regions of Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao and in Caraga.

The bad weather affected 467 villages in 72 towns in 14 provinces in Mindanao or at least 97,153 families or 463,527 people, the agency said.

Of these, 44,316 families or 212,661 people were displaced and brought to 358 evacuation centers.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the tropical depression “Agaton” is expected to be at 40 kilometers east of  Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur on Saturday morning  and  will be at 13 kilometers northeast of Davao City  on Sunday.

The weather bureau in its latest advisory said  the center of the tropical depression was located 260 kilometers southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar or 130 km Northeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.

Pagasa earlier raised public storm Signal No. 1 in seven areas in Mindanao: Surigao del Norte including Siargao Island, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat Province, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Davao Oriental and Compostella Valley.

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