Situation Overview
Tropical Storm Agaton (international name: Megi) is the first tropical cyclone that hit the country this year. Agaton is only a weak tropical depression but is considered a deadly typhoon because of the destruction it caused. Tropical Cyclone Agaton made two landfalls. It made its first landfall in Calicoan Island, Eastern Samar, at 7:30 am on April 10, packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center with gusts of up to 105 kph. The next day at around 4:00 pm, TC Agaton made its second landfall in Basey, Samar. It continued to monitor the southwest and re-entered the Philippine Sea before disappearing. Tropical Storm Agaton gradually weakened as it made its way across Eastern Samar, causing its reclassification into a Tropical Depression, down to a mere Low-Pressure Area by the time it traversed over the coastal waters of Guian, Eastern Samar. By April 12, 2022, all hoisted wind signals were lifted.
TS Agaton destruction was concentrated mostly in the Visayas Region, where the storm lasted longer. Incessant heavy rains, flash flooding, and strong winds resulted in widespread flooding and landslide across the two regions. Reports indicated that flooding is most severe in several parts of Eastern and Western Visayas, particularly in Leyte and Iloilo provinces. Some of the areas affected by the tropical storm were also affected by the recent typhoon Odette and are just beginning to recover from its impact. The 2022’s typhoon season has begun in the midst of dry months, may be an indication of the worsening climate change. The ferocity of Agaton has left nearly half a million affected. In the central province of Leyte, where the damage of Agaton was also centered, the disastrous landslides shattered farming and fishing communities, particularly in the municipality of Abuyog and Baybay in Leyte.
Agaton hit a few days before the Holy Week when thousands are off to travel for vacations, with this a total of around 8,769 passengers were reportedly stranded in the western regions of the country. Power outages were experienced in 76 municipalities, of which 16% or 12 municipalities restored their electricity. As of this writing, flooding continued in at least 87 areas in Visayas and Mindanao.
On April 12, the search for survivors by the authorities began in areas hit by the landslide, but the search and retrieval operation were hampered by bad weather and thick mud. Baybay and Abuyog in Leyte were almost wiped out by a landslide during the devastation of Agaton. A total of 17 cities/municipalities were declared under the State of Calamity including the entire province of Davao de Oro.
Meanwhile, several areas in Northern Mindanao and the Bicol region are still flooded. TS Agaton also caused substantial damages to the agricultural sector, damages reached P725.2 million according to the Department of Agriculture. The Department of Agriculture reports that the tropical storm has affected the livelihoods of 19,424 farmers in Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos City), and Caraga.
Source: National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), PAGASA, Inquirer, Rappler
Affected Populations
As reports from the affected areas continue to come in, data on the number of affected individuals also continue to increase. Latest statistics show that the total number of affected families has already reached 584, 108 or 2,015, 514 individuals, and of which, it has been recorded that 346, 602 individuals have been displaced. Some of them still living in 837 evacuation centers. The NDRRMC also confirmed 172 deaths and 8 injured. Most of the casualties were from Samar and Leyte provinces in Eastern Visayas and 110 persons were reported missing – 104 from Eastern Visayas, five from Western Visayas, and one from the Davao. Most of the missing persons in the Eastern Visayas were believed to be victims of landslides that buried entire villages in Leyte.
Baybay, Leyte
According to the latest update from Baybay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, the number of casualties has tripled as the authorities continue to excavate bodies in villages covered by the landslides, up to 120 bodies have been recovered. Most of them come from Barangay Kantagnos with 59 deaths, 17 bodies are yet to be identified and gender has been determined. It was followed by Barangay Bunga where 39 people were buried alive due to landslides. Of the 3,652 families evacuated, only 707 remained in evacuation centers as of date. Apart from the many lives lost, hectares of paddy fields were also severely affected by the Typhoon Agaton, water and food are also a problem for the residents of several affected areas in Leyte.
Abuyog, Leyte
Meanwhile, a landslide has also almost swallowed the town of Pilar in the municipality of Abuyog in Leyte. This rain-induced landslide has left 177 reported missing and 46 casualties. This tragedy is considered the worst landslide in decades after 80% of the village was covered with rocks and soil amid heavy rainfall dumped by the TS Agaton. A total of 63 barangays are reportedly affected with 18,612 families affected according to the data gathered by our regional center, Leyte Center for Development (LCDe) on the ground. Some of the worst flooded are the barangays of;
Number of Families Affected in each barangay
- Balocawehay – 1,065
Barayong – 452
Bito – 673
Buenavista – 221
Buaya – 265
Can-aporong – 189
Canmarating – 389
Guintagbucan – 494
Hainpipila – 449
Loyonsawang – 352
Matagnao – 200
Nalibunan – 235
Odiongan – 239
Pagsang-an – 3,142
Salvacion – 219
San Isidro – 203
Sta. Fe – 121
Sto. Nino – 1,506
Tabigue – 442
Victory – 840
Mag-atubang – 129
Buntay – 795
Pilar – 135
Iloilo Province
Although not directly affected by the tropical storm as it is outside the “rain band”, Iloilo province still has not been spared from the wrath of TS Agaton. Several areas of the province were inundated causing the displacement of 5,530 individuals or 2,193 families. In Capiz, residents were shocked by the sudden flooding in their villages, and most of them were trapped on the roof of their houses. There are also some areas that were flooded for the first time. As per the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) report, the flooding affects approximately 74,707 individuals from 20,714 families. Some of the most severely affected are the following barangay;
Number of Families Affected in each barangay
- Ajuy – 6,889
Banate – 2,861
Barotac Viejo – 2,090
Dumangas – 1,593
San Dionisio – 1,461
San Rafael – 1,584
Sara – 1,699
Dingle – 1,089
Pototan – 508
Lemery – 388
Balasan – 248
Duenas – 100
Carles – 135
San Enrique – 47
New Lucena – 21
Leganes – 1
A total of 10,402 (670 totally damaged and 9,732 partially damaged) were damaged by the Agaton. The estimated cost of the damages caused by the typhoon to agriculture and infrastructure is ₱256,776,730.06 as per NDRRMC latest reports.
Source: National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), DSWD-Dromic, Abuyog Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management and Council, LCDe
Emergency Response Efforts
• Regional Centers including LCDe and PCDR and other partners in the affected areas to initiate damages, needs, and capacity assessments and mobilize local resources to ensure that some of the unmet needs of the survivors will be fulfilled.
• CDRC started raising funds and donations for the affected communities.
• The rapid assessment has gathered assessment data and the results are now being used to develop an appeal in able to reach a wide range of affected communities.
Resources Available
• Prepositioned goods at the CDRC warehouse
• Monetary and in-kind donations
Expressed Needs
masks, and sleeping materials.
Coordination
Regional Center
1. Leyte Center for Development (LCDE)
2. Panay Center for Disaster Response (PCDR)
3. Mindanao Interfaith Services Foundation Inc. (MISFI)
Contacts
1. Hanna Fiel, Deputy Executive Director, 0945-8355589, hanna.fiel.cdrc2019@gmail.com
2. Cora Jazmines, Local Partnerships Department, 0928-182-4969, lpd@cdrc-phil.com