Tropical depression Agaton, the first typhoon to hit the country this 2014, has weakened into a low pressure area midday Monday.
Earlier, Agaton has been dumping heavy rains over parts of the Visayas and Mindanao since last week, triggering landslides and flashfloods that killed at least 41 people. Signal No. 1 was up two days ago in the provinces of Southern Leyte, Surigao del Norte, Siargao Island, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley.
As Agaton weakened into a low pressure area (LPA) midday Monday, all public storm warning signals are now lifted. The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the LPA was spotted as of 10 a.m. about 400 kilometers east southeast of Davao City or 455 km East of General Santos City. Agaton is expedited to remain in the Philippine area of responsibility until Wednesday. PAGASA cautions sea travel over the seaboards of Luzon, Visayas and Caraga region.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said more than a half a million people were affected by the weather disturbance with 161,000 families displaced, including tens of thousands of passengers stranded in seaports after authorities refused sea vessels to sail in bad weather.
Damage to properties in Northern Mindanao alone was estimated at P328 million, with heavy damage incurred by agriculture and infrastructure.
