TROPICAL storm “Agaton” yesterday made landfall in Guiuan, Eastern Samar as at least five areas were placed under Signal No. 2 and eight others are under the lower Signal No. 1.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said some 38,399 families were affected by Agaton, the first tropical cyclone to hit the country this year.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Agaton hit land in Calicoan Island in Guiuan in Eastern Samar at around 7:30 a.m.
In a bulletin issued at 5 p. yesterday, PAGASA said the areas under Signal No. 2 were the central and southern portions of Eastern Samar, central and southern portions of Samar, and the northeastern portion of Leyte while under Signal No. 1 were the southern portion of Masbate, the rest of Eastern Samar and Samar, Northern Samar, rest of Leyte, Southern Leyte, northeastern portion of Cebu, and eastern portion of Bohol
As of 4 p.m yesterday, the center of Agaton was in the coastal waters of Lawaan, Eastern Samar. Agaton was moving slowly westward, packing sustained winds of 75 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 105 km.
PAGASA said until early Tuesday, Agaton is forecast to “move erratically or remain almost stationary over the areas of eastern portion of Leyte and the southern portion of Samar Island and its coastal waters due to weak steering environment.”
By Tuesday afternoon, Agaton is forecast to turn east southeastward or eastward and interact with tropical storm “Malakas” which was outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) as of yesterday.
Malakas is forecast to enter PAR today or tomorrow and will be given the local name “Basyang.” It is not expected to make landfall as it is forecast to exit PAR late tomorrow or early Wednesday.
PAGASA said Agaton will likely remain a tropical storm during the 24-hour forecast period although it is not ruling out the possibility of Agaton weakening into tropical depression due to it interaction with land.
Agaton will bring light, moderate to heavy, with at times intense, rains to some parts of the Visayas, Luzon and Mindanao.
“Under these conditions and considering significant antecedent rainfall, scattered to widespread flooding and rain-induced landslides are expected especially in areas that are highly or very highly susceptible to these hazard as identified in hazard maps,” PAGASA said.
It said winds may reach gale-force in strength in areas under Signal No. 2 while strong breeze to near-gale conditions will be experienced in areas under Signal No. 1.
The Camp Aguinaldo-based NDRRMC, in a situational report, said 38,399 families or 45,588 individuals in Northern Mindanao, Caraga and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao were affected by Agaton.
Of the number, 3,228 families or 11,264 individuals are staying inside 52 evacuation centers.
The NDRRMC said 20,613 other families were also displaced but are staying outside evacuation centers, or with the relatives and friends, but said it was still validating its equivalent to individuals.
Some areas in Mindanao began experiencing winds even before last Saturday when Agaton developed into a tropical depression. Agaton intensified into a storm before making landfall yesterday.
NDRRMC spokesman Mark Timbal said officials of Eastern Visayas region have yet to submit a report on the effects of Agaton in the area.
NDRRMC information officer Easha Mariano said initial information showed some families were preemptively evacuated.
As to the overall effects of Agaton, Timbal said: “So far, strong winds and rains were encountered in the (affected) areas.”
“We are still waiting for the damage assessment coming from our counterpart,” he said, adding that NDRRMC officials are “talking shelter in the meantime” because they were still experiencing the effects of Agaton.
On whether there were major incidents, including flooding, reported after Agaton’s landfall, Timbal said, “So far, we have yet to receive a report about that, except those (flooding) reported earlier in the Mindanao areas.”
The Philippine Coast Guard suspended sea travel in Eastern Visayas to prevent mishaps. It said the sea condition in the region was moderate to rough before noon yesterday.
It said 212 passengers, drivers and helpers have been stranded in various ports in Eastern Visayas, along with three vessels.
