Tropical depression ‘Lingling’ heads for Northern Mindanao

Manila: A low pressure area lingering over the southern main island has developed into a tropical depression and is bearing in the direction of Northern Mindanao region.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), a low pressure area, which had caused substantial damage and casualties in Mindanao, has developed into tropical depression “Lingling” (local code name: Agaton) and is moving at a southeast direction and is already affecting Southeastern Mindanao.

“Available data shows that the tropical depression is located 185 kilometres east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur,” PAGASA said in its 4pm Saturday bulletin.

The tropical depression will bring in maximum winds of 55 kilometres per hour pulling in monsoons that will have an effect as far as the northern main island of Luzon.

As a result of the presence of Lingling, storm signal number 1 had been raised over Southern Leyte, Surigao del Norte, Siargao Island, Surigao del Sur, Dinagat province, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley.

Incidentally, these same areas had suffered from the effects of the low pressure area which came before.

“Estimated rainfall over the 300 kilometre diameter of the tropical depression is expected to be at 5-15 millimetres per hour,” PAGASA said.

PAGASA said Lingling is expected to affect northern Mindanao on Sunday morning as it continues its southeastern track.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), several people had already died from the effects of the low pressure weather system that had been affecting Mindanao over the past several days.

NDRRMC Executive Director Eduardo del Rosario said a total 37 people had been listed as dead, 65 injured and seven missing in four regions in Mindanao.

The seven of the fatalities are from Tarragona, Davao six from Cadianao, Dinagat Islands; and two from Bango and Monkayo, Compostela Valley.

Apart from these, 15 people died from drowning and landslides in Roxas in Zamboanga del Norte; Prosperidad, San Francisco and Bayugan City in Agusan del Sur; Maco, Monkayo and New Bataan in Compostela Valley; Jimenez in Misamis Occidental; Mainit, Bunawan and Taganaan in Surigao del Norte; and Lupon in Davao Oriental.

The total number of affected population had reached 466,911 people 162,502 had been displaced.

Meanwhile, the presence of the weather disturbance had affected flights to and from Southeastern Mindanao, as well as sailings.

The Philippines is visited by at least 20 weather disturbances every year, ranging from monsoon rains to tropical depressions to typhoons. Every year hundreds of lives are lost to calamities caused by these weather events as well as billions of pesos in property and infrastructure damage.

Observers had said that had it not been for the country’s million of overseas-based workers and assistance from other nations, the Philippines will have difficulty rising from the steady stream of disasters that take place each year.