Tropical depression Agaton claims 40 lives in southern Philippines

MANILA, Philippines -- Tropical depression Agaton, which inflicted southern and central Philippines, has killed 40 people, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) disclosed on Sunday.

Five were reported missing, three in southern province of Compostela Valley and one each from Zamboanga del Norte and Davao Oriental. Also 65 were injured from the calamity, said NDRRMC Executive Director and concurrent Office of Civil Defense Administrator Eduardo del Rosario.

Among the 40 fatalities, nine died in Davao Oriental province, eight were killed in neighboring Compostela Valley province, Del Rosario said.

The Province of Dinagat Islands had seven deaths, Agusan del Sur had five, Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Norte tallied three fatalities apiece, Misamis Occidental had two deaths, while Davao del Norte, Zamboanga del Norte, and Misamis Oriental had one each, he said.

More than 587,115 persons have been affected in Zamboanga Peninsunla, Northern Mindanao, Davao region and Caraga. Of the number, 33,388 families or 161,808 persons are living in 436 evacuation centers.

The initial cost of damage to infrastructure and agriculture came to P313.78 million in Northern Mindanao, Davao region and Caraga alone, he said.