Over 8,000 persons still in evacuation centers after ‘Agaton’

Local search and rescue team respond to flooded areas brought by typhoon Agaton in sitio Sili, brgy Paknaan Mandaue City. (CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)

Nearly 9,000 individuals remained in evacuation centers in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Agaton, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Thursday.

In its situational report, a total of 2,171 families or 8,926 persons continued to seek shelter in 55 evacuation centers, while 332 families or 1,437 persons who were displaced chose to stay with their relatives.

Agaton, the first tropical cyclone for the year, affected 7,989 families or 33,084 persons in 189 barangays in Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Caraga and ARMM.

At its peak, Agaton prompted the cancellation of dozens of domestic flights and suspension of classes. It made landfall six times across the country before it left the Philippine area of responsibility on Wednesday afternoon.

The NDRRMC has not yet provided the cost of damage to infrastructure and agriculture. Eighty houses were damaged in Mimaropa, Eastern Visayas, Caraga and ARMM. /je