COTABATO CITY (MindaNews/20 January) — At least 196 houses were damaged when big waves slammed into three coastal barangays of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (RDRRMC-ARMM) said in a report.
Edmundo Garmino, RDRRMC- ARMM deputy director said 123 houses in Barangay Cusiongs, 70 houses in Barangay Tapean and three in Barangay Badak on Saturday evening, January 18.
There were no reports of casualties or missing persons.
Garmino, however, clarified that what happened was not a storm surge caused by Tropical Depression Agaton.
Nonetheless, the Office of Civil Defense and the RDRRMC asked residents in coastline areas of Datu Odin Sinsuat town to be vigilant and ready.
The RDRRMC and ARMM Health Emergency Action and Response Team were set to distribute relief goods today to the affected families who are now staying with relatives and schools that serve as evacuation centers.
As of 5:00am Monday, Agaton was spotted 230 km southeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur or 230 km east of Davao City, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said.
The weather disturbance has continued to move at 5 kph with maximum winds of 55 kph near the center, Pagasa added.
Public storm warning signal has been hoisted in Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley. (Ferdinandh B. Cabrera/MindaNews)