An American pensioner has been confirmed as among the latest victims of Tropical Storm Agaton.
James Russell Landstrom, aged 71, died of a heart attack after becoming trapped inside his car amid waist-deep floodwater in Numancia, Aklan, today (Wednesday, January 3).
According to a report on GMA News, he was declared dead after being taken to St Petersburg Gabriel Medical Center
Flooding affected 17 towns in the province of Aklan as Agaton became just the latest storm to tear through the Philippines.
In Malabuyoc, two other fatalities have been identified as Flora Andrade, 64, and Ritchie Pimentel, 39.
Town mayor Lito Creus said Andrade died as she and her family were fleeing to safety, just three days after moving into their new home. However, Andrade had rushed back inside to retrieve something when a landslide destroyed part of the house, killing her instantly.
The other victim died after he hit his head on a concrete floor when he fell down stairs during a power outage.
The local government has given both families 5,000 pesos of emergency assistance.
The provincial government and the Department of Public Works and Highways has deployed heavy equipment and trucks to rescue people who remain stranded by the rising waters.
Flooding and overflowing rivers were recorded in the cities of Carcar, Mandaue and Toledo, and the towns of Barili, Dumanjug and Ginatilan.
Cebu City’s disaster team has not yet recorded any casualties.
Agaton is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility today. In a recent bulletin, state weather agency Pagasa said Agaton may turn into a Tropical Storm as it reaches the West Philippine Sea.
Pagasa recorded the highest rainfall in Maasin City in Southern Leyte followed by Surigao City and Tacloban City.