First for 2014: Agaton hits south

MANILA, Philippines - The week-long torrential rains brought by the low-pressure area hovering over Mindanao intensified into a tropical depression yesterday, with the state weather bureau hoisting storm signal No. 1 over several areas in the region.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the storm, named Agaton, was expected to hit eastern Mindanao and the Visayas today.

Agaton intensified from a low-pressure area yesterday morning. It has been dumping heavy rains over parts of the Visayas and Mindanao since last week, triggering landslides and flashfloods that killed more than 30 people.

Signal No. 1 was up in Southern Leyte, Surigao del Norte, Siargao Island, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat province, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley as of 5 p.m. yesterday.

PAGASA weather forecaster Aldzar Aurelio said Agaton was forecast to make landfall over eastern Mindanao this afternoon.

Aurelio said heavy rains were expected over the Caraga region and Eastern and Central Visayas beginning last night until today.

The threat of heavy rains comes as residents in Eastern Visayas are still reeling from the devastation left by Super Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan last year.

Aurelio said areas in the northeastern portion of Mindanao could also expect moderate to strong winds as Agaton approaches the region today.

He said Agaton was moving west slowly at five kilometers per hour.

As of 4 p.m., the cyclone was located at 165 km northeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur or 190 km east of Surigao City, packing winds of 55 kilometers per hour near center.

PAGASA warned fishermen against going out in the seaboards of Luzon, the Visayas and Caraga region due to big waves generated by the weather disturbance.

This developed as the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) ordered the suspension of shipping activities in several areas affected by Agaton.

PCG spokesman Commander Armand Balilo said shipping activities in Surigao del Norte, including Siargao Island, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Davao Oriental, and Compostela Valley have been suspended because of the prevailing bad weather.

This resulted in some 9,291 passengers stranded in different ports in Bicol, Central Visayas and Northern Mindanao.

There were 634 passengers waiting for their rides in Cebu, 121 passengers in Maasin, Leyte, 206 in Camarines Sur, 7,727 in Sorsogon, 58 in Masbate and 545 passengers in Surigao.

More casualties

The week-long torrential rains also brought more casualties, with 38 people dead and seven still missing.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the additional fatalities came from Barangay Libertad, Calamba, Misamis Occidental where a certain Richard Aljas died from electrocution and Arlene – Jaime Laude, Evelyn Macairan, Alexis Romero, Ben Serrano, Celso Amo