Search, rescue, and retrieval operations are ongoing in Leyte province as a result of flooding, mudslide and landslide caused by Tropical Depression Agaton, the country’s civil defense chief said on Monday.
In his report to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Office of Civil Defense administrator Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad, said among the agencies involved are the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Army (PA), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and response units of local government units (LGUs).
“Atin ding iniutos sa regional director ng OCD Region VIII na itayo ang Regional Incident Management Team para sa pag-organize ng augmentation ng mga response units lalong-lalo na diyan sa Baybay City, Leyte,” Jalad said during President Duterte’s Talk to the People briefing.
The Operation Center of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) also had a meeting in Camp Aguinaldo to discuss the possibility of sending additional response units to Eastern Visayas.
“Mr. President. Aming tinututukan ang sitwasyon diyan sa Region VIII, lalong-lalo na diyan sa Baybayin, Leyte — Baybay, Leyte dahil sa na — sa advance report na may mga mass casualty diyan at malawakang lugar na naapektuhan ng pagbaha, at saka mudslide, at saka landslide,” said Jalad, who is also the NDRRMC’s executive director.
Based on the latest report on Monday, there were three reported deaths, one missing and two injuries as a result of the onslaught of Tropical Depression Agaton.
There was also an unofficial report from Baybay, Leyte, citing 14 persons dying because of the weather disturbance, 20 missing individuals in Bgy. Bunga, and 11 deaths in Bgy. Mailhi, according to Jalad.
In Bgy. Kantagnos, there was one death based on the unofficial report, he said.
With regard to affected infrastructure, he reported that 67 road sections and four bridge sections were affected by flooding.
Fifteen areas experienced power interruption, while two jurisdictions had water supply interruption, he added. PND
