Philippines’ first storm in 2024 kills 7; Marcos allots P600M for Aghon victims
By Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, Reporter
AT LEAST seven people were killed during the onslaught of typhoon Aghon, the first storm to hit the Philippines this year, as President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. set aside over P600 million to aid some 36,000 victims, authorities said on Tuesday.
As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, the typhoon was spotted 535 kilometers (km) east of Basco, Batanes north of the capital Manila, with sustained winds of up to 130 km per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 160 kph.
In its situational report, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said a 14-year-old female from Misamis Oriental died after strong winds toppled a tree. Another student was injured.
In a separate report, Reuters quoted police Maj. Elizabeth Capistrano telling local radio station DWPM that there had been six deaths due to Aghon, including two men who drowned.
The NDRRMC said eight more people were injured and 36,143 people or 12,436 families in Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Metro Manila were adversely affected by Aghon’s weekend wrath.
It also reported that 16,426 people or 4,076 families sought temporary shelter at evacuation centers, while 5,614 other displaced residents stayed with friends or relatives as floodwaters rose in many areas.
Before departing for Brunei Tuesday morning, Mr. Marcos said the social protection agency had already given out P1.35 million worth of assistance to typhoon victims.
The government also put 841 search and rescue retrieval teams from the Philippine military, coast guard, and fire agency on standby, said the President, who is currently on a two-day state visit to Brunei.
Over 400 transportation assets and 400 emergency telecommunications equipment were set to be used for relief efforts, he said.
Aghon has affected 60 seaports, 13 of which were still non-operational as of 8 a.m., according to the NDRRMC, which reported that the number of stranded passengers had hit over 400.
It said 11 domestic flights and one international flight had been canceled so far.
The NDRRMC said the government had provided P3.66 million in assistance to affected families.
PAGASA, meanwhile, reported that Aghon is unlikely to directly bring significant rainfall within the next three days.
However, the southwesterly windflow will bring moderate to heavy rains over Western Visayas and the western portions of Northern, Central, and Southern Luzon until Friday.
“With the lifting of all hoisted wind signals, possible impacts from severe winds of Aghon within the forecast period are becoming unlikely.”
