As Agaton affects Cebu: At least 146 families displaced

CEBU, Philippines —  Agaton has displaced at least 146 families in Cebu due to flooding and landslides.

Of this number, 54 are in Cebu City and 92 are in Cebu Province.

The families in Cebu City were evacuated to at least seven sites. Data from the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office showed that five families were evacuated in Barangay Budlaan, six in Barangay Mabolo, and nine in Barangay San Nicolas.

Fifteen families, on the other hand, were evacuated in Barangay Labangon, 12 families in Mambaling, and seven in Barangay Duljo-Fatima.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) reported that 36 families were evacuated in Tuburan town; 22 in San Remigio; five in Sogod; 20 in Minglanilla, and nine in San Francisco, Camotes Islands.

Stranded

At least 233 individuals were also stranded both in Cebu City and Province after at least 15 sea trips were cancelled as Agaton gained strength on Sunday, April 10.

Thirty-three travelers were stranded in Cebu City and were housed at the gymnasium in Barangay San Roque in Cebu City while at least 200 were stranded at seaports in different areas in the province.

Region-wide, the Philippine Coast Guard-Central Visayas reported 525 passengers stranded as 128 rolling cargoes and four vessels took shelter.

Damage

Continuous rains for days from Agaton also caused damage in Cebu Island.

In Cebu City, the city’s disaster team responded to 41 emergencies. These include 16 minor fire incidents caused by damaged electric posts, 11 minor rockfall/landslide incidents, seven fallen trees that blocked roads, flooding in two areas, two collapsed structures, and one vehicle accident.

No casualty was recorded as of April 11.

“None, so far, and we would like to prevent that from happening… that is why we are now preparing and ensuring the safety of the people as ordered by the mayor nga hasta na tong naa sa tunga sa sapa has to be evacuated and we are doing that,” said lawyer Gerry Carillo, chairman of the city’s Disaster Council.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama signed Executive Order No. 167 called “Oplan Amping ug Puyo Lang Gyud,” which directs the suspension of work and classes in both public and private institutions and establishments in the city due to Agaton.

On Sunday, April 10, Rama declared a State of Calamity in the city.

“Days ago, we have already been hit by millions per kilometers of barrel of water, and days ago we already have continuing incidents… Landslide, power outages, swollen rivers because of the continuing ulan… and some walls gave in, Buhisan dam also on a critical level,” Rama said.

The said EO will be revoked only after assessment of the situation especially with the entry of Malakas/Basyang into the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

“We have to monitor it on a day to day basis because as being projected, this whole inconvenience throughout of this weather increment will be until Wednesday… kani man gud si Malakas, basta mag-abot ug si Agaton, birahon ni si Agaton, dalhon ni niya ngadto sa kapanaw-panawan… asa kaha ni mangigo mao nay mahitabo, maong ato gyung i-ampo,” Rama said.

In Cebu Province, a landslide occurred in Barangay Cansomory in Balamban while Barangay Lunas in Asturias experienced flooding.

Trees toppled down in Bogo City while a boulder rolled down and hit a house in Naga City.

Like in Cebu City, no casualty was recorded in the province.

Forecast

Eastern Visayas, Cebu, and Bohol will continue to experience rain and gusty winds from Tropical Depression Agaton today, April 12, 2022, while the rest of the Visayas, Palawan, including Kalayaan Islands and Occidental Mindoro, will have cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms.

Tropical Cyclone Wind signal number 1 is still in effect in the northeastern portion of Cebu, which includes Daanbantayan, San Remigio, Medellin, City of Bogo, Tabogon, Borbon, Sogod, Catmon, Carmen, Danao City, Compostela, Liloan, and Camotes Islands.

PAGASA said moderate to heavy, at times, intense rains, will be experienced in Eastern Visayas, Capiz, Aklan, Iloilo, Antique, the northern portions of Negros Provinces, and the northern portion of Cebu, including Bantayan Islands and Camotes Islands.

Light to moderate, at times heavy rains, will be experienced in Sorsogon, Masbate, Romblon, and the rest of Visayas.

As of 3 p.m. on Monday, April 11, the center of Agaton was over the coastal waters of Marabut, Samar (11.2°N, 125.1°E) with maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 60 km/h. It was almost stationary.

Agaton is forecast to loop slowly in the vicinity of the Northeastern portion of Leyte and the Southern portions of Samar and Eastern Samar before emerging over the Philippine Sea Tuesday night as another tropical cyclone with international name ‘Malakas’ begins to interact with it.

PAGASA said “Agaton is forecast to remain a tropical depression” and any significant intensification will likely be inhibited by the binary interaction with ‘Malakas’. - Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon Decemay P. Padilla and Le Phyllis F. Antojado JMO (FREEMAN)