A total of 23 people are reported dead in Eastern Visayas as of 6 a.m. on Tuesday due to Tropical Depression Agaton, according to the Police Regional Office 8 (PRO-8).
From the total deaths, 21 were from Barangays Maihi, Kantagnos, and Bunga in Baybay City in Leyte due to several landslides reported there.
A total of 10 barangays in Baybay reported landslides as of April 11, Lt. Col. Bella Rentuaya, spokesperson of PRO-8, informed DZRH in an interview.
Meanwhile, another casualty was reported from Barangay Caranas, Motiong, in Samar due to drowning, while another was added on Tuesday morning from Abuyog, Leyte.
Rentuaya said that six people have been reported missing in Baybay City, but the reported number could be higher.
"Ang sabi ng chief of police doon, actually marami pa po, kaso wala silang panahon na i-report sa pulis," said the PRO-8 spokesperson.
(The chief of police there said there could be more, but they do not have time to report it to the police.)
The PRO-8 said in a statement that search and rescue operations for the missing individuals have continued, with Rentuaya saying 662 uniformed personnel have been deployed for assistance for Eastern Visayas and other government agencies have deployed assistance in the area.
As of 11 a.m. Tuesday, the center of Tropical Depression Agaton is now in the vicinity of Balangiga, Eastern Samar, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
It is moving eastward slowly, with maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour near the center and gustiness of up to 75 kilometers per hour.
PAGASA said the tropical depression is expected to continue meandering the vicinity of the Samar-Leyte area within the next six to 12 hours before turning east southeastwards towards the Philippine Sea starting Tuesday evening or Wednesday morning.
