611 families preemptively evacuated amid Agaton threat

More than 600 families have been preemptively evacuated in anticipation of Tropical Depression Agaton, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Tuesday.

At a press briefing, NDRRMC spokesperson Romina Marasigan said 611 families in Capiz, Zamboanga del Norte, Agusan de Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat Island and Agusan del Norte were evacuated.

Of this number, 285 families are staying in evacuation centers while 16 families in Region 7 sought shelter from their relatives.

Meanwhile, there were 3,061 stranded passengers at the ports of Northern Mindanao, Eastern Visayas and Central Visayas.

As of 10 a.m., PAGASA reported that tropical depression Agaton — the first cyclone to hit the Philippines in 2018 — is expected to make landfall in Palawan on Tuesday afternoon.

The weather disturbance was last estimated at 170 kilometers west of Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental. —KBK, GMA News