Woman drowns, 5,000 still in evacuation camps in Capiz, Aklan due to ‘Agaton’

ILOILO CITY—-A 65-year-old woman drowned and more than 5,000 evacuees have not returned to their homes in Capiz and Aklan provinces due to flooding despite the exit of Tropical Depression “Agaton” from the country.

Lolita Verano drowned in Barangay Rosal in Libacao town in Aklan due to flooding, according to Galo Ibardolaza, executive officer of the Aklan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).

At least 1,166 families or 5,399 persons were still in evacuation camps and in private houses in the two provinces on Wednesday morning.

In Capiz, 820 families or around 4,100 persons have not returned to their homes due to flooding amid continued rains.

Esperedion Pelaez, Capiz PDRRMO executive officer, said the flooding has been also spawned by water coming from upland villages.

At least 120 villages in 12 towns in Capiz remained flooded. These included the towns of Maayon, Sigma, Cuartero, Mambusao, Dumalag, Dao, Panitan, Pontevedra, Dumarao, Panay, Tapaz and President Roxas.

Capiz Gov. Antonio Del Rosario ordered the suspension of classes in all levels in both public and private schools in the province.

In Aklan, 346 families or 1,299 persons were evacuated due to flooding in the capital town of Kalibo and in Banga, Lezo, Madalag and Tangalan towns. Classes were also suspended in varying levels in the towns of Kalibo, Banga, Numancia, Lezo, and Malinao Madalag in Aklan.

In Kalibo alone, 185 families or 781 persons were evacuated to the ABL Sports Complex and the Magsaysay Park.