‘Agaton’ exits but flood, slide warnings remain

Residents of Loboc town in Bohol province wade through a flooded street as Tropical Depression “Agaton” dumped heavy rains in the Visayas. —LEO UDTOHAN

Tropical Cyclone “Agaton” (international name: Bolaven) crossed Palawan province on its way out of the country on Wednesday but the government weather bureau warned of continuing rains and rough seas in Luzon.

In its weather bulletin issued at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration warned of possible floods and landslides due to continued moderate to heavy rains over the Bicol region and the provinces of Rizal, Aurora and Quezon due to the tail-end of a cold front.

Sea travel also remained risky over the seaboards of northern and southern Luzon, eastern seaboard of Central Luzon, eastern and western seaboards of the Visayas, and eastern seaboard of Mindanao due to the surge of the northeast monsoon.

But all storm signals had been lifted, even as Agaton strengthened to a tropical storm as it exited the Philippine area of responsibility through the West Philippine Sea, west-northwest of Puerto Princesa City.

Preemptive evacuation

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said that as of 11 a.m. on Wednesday, 4,594 families preemptively evacuated in the provinces of Palawan, Capiz, Cebu, Bohol, Zamboanga del Norte, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat and Camiguin as well as Cagayan de Oro and Iligan Cities.

NDRRMC said 1,435 families remained at 55 evacuation centers in the Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao and Caraga regions.

Mina Marasigan, NDRRMC spokesperson, said despite the challenge posed by the New Year celebration in areas on the path of Agaton, the government’s call to evacuate was heeded.

A village road at Ginatilan town in Cebu province is cleared of mud and other debris following a landslide. —LITO TECSON / CEBU DAILY NEWS

‘Zero casualty’

In Palawan, initial reports from monitoring centers of the provincial and city governments indicated “zero casualty” from Agaton.

In Puerto Princesa City, where Agaton passed through on Tuesday afternoon, some 3,000 residents in coastal villages sought shelter at centers prepared by the city government. At least 1,524 families in 11 towns moved to evacuation sites.

Many of them started returning home on Wednesday.

Gil Acosta Jr., provincial information officer, said the damage caused by Agaton was “minimal” compared to the two recent storms, “Urduja” and “Vinta,” that hit Palawan in December.

In Bicol, however, Agaton’s heavy rains led to the suspension of classes, cancellation of flights and the evacuation of hundreds of people as floods and landslides hit the region, said Claudio Yucot, Office of Civil Defense regional director.

Flooding was reported in  three Camarines Sur towns and six Sorsogon towns. Sections of Legazpi City were also flooded on Wednesday.

The Department of Public Works and Highways in Catanduanes province said five major road networks in the towns of Viga, Caramoran and Gigmoto were hit by landslides.

The Chinese cargo vessel Jin Ming No. 16 is battered by strong waves at Pambujan town in Northern Samar province. RACHEL ARNAIZ

Sunken ship

In Northern Samar province, a Chinese-registered cargo vessel sank in the waters off Pambujan town on Tuesday after it was battered by strong winds and waves spawned by Agaton.

The nine crew members of Jin Ming No. 16, however, were rescued after they sent a distress signal to the Philippine Coast Guard.

Police said the vessel left China on Dec. 12 and was heading to Chile when it was battered by huge waves, damaging its hull.

In the Visayas, more than 5,000 evacuees had yet to return home on Wednesday after floods hit Capiz and Aklan provinces.

Galo Ibardolaza, executive officer of the Aklan provincial disaster risk reduction and management office (PDRRMO), said Lolita Verano, 65, drowned at Libacao town as floodwater rose in her village.

Esperedion Pelaez, Capiz PDRRMO executive officer, said at least 120 villages at 12 towns in Capiz remained flooded.

No storm-related casualty was reported when Agaton made landfall on Siargao Island in Caraga region on Tuesday but 800 people had to be evacuated in Compostela Valley province. —REPORTS FROM JAYMEE T. GAMIL AND JEANNETTE I. ANDRADE IN MANILA; AND REDEMPTO ANDA, REY ANTHONY OSTRIA, MAR S. ARGUELLES, JUAN ESCANDOR JR., MA. APRIL MIER, MICHAEL B. JAUCIAN, RACHEL ARNAIZ, NESTOR P. BURGOS JR., FRINSTON LIM AND RICHEL V. UMEL IN THE PROVINCES