Floods, landslides kill 37 in Mindanao

Associated Press

MANILA, Philippines—The death toll from floods and landslides in Mindanao triggered by Tropical Depression Agaton has risen to 37, the National Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Saturday.
In its latest update, NDRRMC said 65 were injured while seven remained missing.

It added that 9,956 passengers were stranded in Visayas and Mindanao.

The bad weather affected 564 villages in 92 towns in 15 provinces in Mindanao or at least 97, 705 families or 466, 911 people, the agency said.

It also said at least 52 roads and 21 bridges remain impassable while 13 landslides and six flash flood incidents were reported around Mindanao.

It also said that Agaton has so far caused P256, 166,860.15 damage including P101, 043,750 in infrastructure and P155, 123,110.15 in agriculture.

According to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in CARAGA region, the entire province of Dinagat Islands suffered a total blackout due to heavy rains and strong winds.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) in its latest advisory said the center of Tropical Depression Agaton was located 145 kilometers east of Surigao City.

The weather bureau added it was moving west at a speed of five kilometers per hour.

Public storm signal number one is still up in Surigao del Norte, Siargao Island, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat Province, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Davao Oriental and Compostella Valley, Pagasa said.

Agaton is expected to be at 40 kilometers southeast of Surigao City on Sunday morning   and  will be at 65 kilometers southwest of Cotabato City on Monday.

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