Typhoon Aghon leaves 3 dead in Quezon

Three persons, including an infant, were reported to have died during the onslaught of Typhoon Aghon in Quezon province.

- MICHELLE ZOLETA

The Quezon police provincial office or PRO 4-A yesterday said two men died when an acacia and a buli (palm) tree fell on their houses while they were asleep in San Antonio town and Lucena, respectively.

A seven-month-old boy was found floating in Barangay Ilayang Polo in Pagbilao town.

Quezon province also reported 419 damaged houses as well as 156 barangays and 15,002 people affected by Aghon.

In Bicol, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported at least seven people injured and 10,349 others affected.

For Luzon and the Visayas, 8,465 families in 158 barangays were affected. The NDRRMC has yet to receive a report of fatalities.

President Marcos gave assurance yesterday that the government has readied P3 billion in standby funds and prepositioned relief goods to ensure faster and wider distribution of assistance to affected residents.

"We have distributed more than P1.2 million in humanitarian assistance, and we have prepared more than P3 billion worth of standby funds and prepositioned goods and stockpiles to ensure wider and faster assistance for our countrymen affected by typhoon Aghon," the President said in a post on X.

"We can expect our agencies to continue supporting each community and ensuring the wellbeing of our citizens," Marcos added.

In reports by disaster officials, Aghon (international name Ewiniar) affected 19,373 people in Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol and Eastern Visayas regions as of yesterday.

Philippine National Police spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said the PNP has 11,000 Response and Standby Forces that are ready for deployment, if needed.

"Currently, 349 evacuation centers are operational nationwide, with the distribution of one in the National Capital Region, 153 in Calabarzon and 195 in Mimaropa. These centers are accommodating approximately 3,175 families, totaling around 14,196 individuals," Fajardo said.