The death toll on the onslaught of tropical depression "Agaton" rose to 31 as more bodies were recovered during the search and retrieval operations in at least two regions affected by the weather disturbance.

Police Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, director of the Police Regional Office 8, said almost all of the fatalities in Eastern Visayas died of the landslides that hit at least three barangays in Baybay City in Leyte.

He said that as of Tuesday morning, April 12, there were 21 fatalities recorded in Baybay City and three in Abuyog town both in Leyte. The 25th fatality in the region was in Motiong town of Samar.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said three people died of drowning in Negros Oriental.

On the other hand, two people were also reported to have died in Monkayo, Davao de Oro and one from Cateel, Davao Oriental.

In a statement, the military said there are 28 people who were reported missing in Samar and Leyte provinces. The same military reports revealed that there are 105 injured people in Eastern Visayas, almost all of them are from Baybay City as a result of the landslides.

"We also have 816 families or 3,729 individuals that are now staying in various evacuation centers here," said Banac.

Banac said they are working closely with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard and the the local government units both for the search and rescue operations and in providing assistance to the displaced residents.

On Alert

In Western Visayas, regional police director Brig. gen. Flynn Dongbo lauded his men for their immediate response to rescue and evacuate residents who were all affected by flash flood especially in Iloilo province.

"As of this morning (April 12) we already deployed 300 of our personnel in the affected areas for search and rescue. Some of them were also deployed to secure evacuation centers foe displaced residents," said Dongbo.

Aside from manpower, we also deployed four- wheeled patrols, trucks ropes, axes, chainsaws and other available equipment," he added.

A number of barangays were submerged in deep floods in various areas in Western Visayas. There were no casualties reported as of Tuesday morning.

Dongbo said they are continuously monitoring the effects of "Agaton" in the region.

"We assure the general public that all units and its personnel; and resources are on stand-by and ready to provide support to those who will be in dire need of rescue and assistance in this time of calamity," he said.