Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 10) – Tropical Storm Agaton has claimed one life in Davao de Oro, Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy told CNN Philippines on Sunday.
Uy said the resident, who hails from Monkayo town, died during a flashflood caused by heavy rains brought about by the weather disturbance.
“It happened on the day when the downpour intensified in the municipality of Monkayo because of the flashfloods,” Uy said in an interview with CNN Philippines’ Newsroom Weekend.
The Davao de Oro provincial government earlier declared a state of calamity due to Agaton, whose heavy rains forced the evacuation of residents from low-lying areas.
The governor said those who were evacuated have since returned to their homes, while their power supply remains stable.
Uy said some of bridges in the province were damaged due to the tropical storm, as they continue infrastructure assessment. He said they hope to conduct repair work as soon as possible.
He estimated the agricultural damage in the province at around ₱150 million.
“Ang huge damage talaga na nagdulot sa amin ay sa [The huge damage that really affected us was on] agriculture. Sana mag-harvest na in one week ang ating palay farmers [Our palay farmers were set to harvest in one week], but the LPA (low pressure area) struck us,” Uy lamented.
As of 4 p.m. on Sunday, Agaton was spotted over the coastal waters of Lawaan, Eastern Samar. Several areas in Eastern Visayas were placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals No. 1 and 2 due to the storm.
