THE number of deaths due to the first tropical cyclone that hit the country this year hit 64, while the affected population remained at around 200,000 families, the state disaster council said on Monday.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) said 85 individuals were injured due to the low pressure area (LPA) that turned into tropical depression "Agaton." The number of missing remained at 10.
In an interview, NDRRMC spokesperson Major Reynaldo Balido said that some families who fled from their homes and stayed in the evacuation centers amid the non-stop rain already went back to their houses.
"Sa ngayon nasa 25,000 na lang ang nananatili sa mga evacuation centers. Iyon 'yung mga galing sa lugar na severe ang baha at tinamaan din ng langslides," he said.
Agaton, which stayed in the country for almost two weeks, caused 16 landslide, six massive flooding and two maritime incidents in several provinces in Mindanao.
"Hindi tumitigil ang mga tao natin doon sa kanilang clearing operations para maibalik na agad sa normal ang lahat," Balido said.
According to the NDRRMC, the total damage to infrastructure and agriculture decreased to around P254 million, after further calculation.
Agaton entered the Philippine waters last January 10. (Sunnex)