12 April 2022

Landslides from Tropical Depression Agaton (Megi) in the Philippines

Posted by Dave Petley

Landslides from Tropical Depression Agaton (Megi) in the Philippines

On Sunday 10 April 2022 Tropical Depression Agaton (known as Tropical Depression / Storm Megi internationally) tracked across Leyte in the Philippines, bringing torrential rainfall.  Reports indicate that there have been multiple landslides causing widespread damage.  The most damaging landslides appear to have occurred in the Baybay City region, where at least 22 people have been killed in multiple slides.  Further people are missing.

The worst single event was a landslide at Mailhi village, where 14 bodies have been recovered to date. 

Another very significant landslide has occurred at Kantagnos village in Baybay City.  The Philipppines News Agency has this image of the downstream impact of this landslide, which is reported to have killed at least three people:-

The aftermath of the landslide at Kantagnos village in Baybay City, Leyte, Philippines, triggered by Tropical Depression Agaton.

The aftermath of the landslide at Kantagnos village in Baybay City, Leyte, Philippines, Tropical Depression Agaton. Image by Pobreng Biyahero via Philippine News Agency.

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Al Jazeera has this image of what is I think the same site, showing a very large landslide scar:-

The aftermath of a landslide, possibly at Kantagnos village in Baybay City, Leyte, Philippines, triggered by Tropical Depression Agaton.

The aftermath of a landslide, possibly at Kantagnos village in Baybay City, Leyte, Philippines, triggered by Tropical Depression Agaton. Image from Al Jazeera.

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The location of this landslide appears to be 10.677, 124.853.  This is a perspective view on Google Earth:-

Google Earth perspective view of the likely site of the landslide at Kantagnos village in Baybay City, Leyte, Philippines., Tropical Depression Agaton

Google Earth perspective view of the likely site of the landslide at Kantagnos village in Baybay City, Leyte, Philippines, Tropical Depression Agaton.

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This appears to be a very large failure and flow.  There are images online of other large events, and one Youtube video of a substantial failure, but at the moment I am struggling to determine whether these landslides are from Tropical Depression Agaton.

Hopefully the true picture will become clearer in the coming days.  Leyte has a long track record of damaging landslides, usually triggered by tropical cyclones.  However, April seems to me to be an unusual time of year for a rainfall event of this magnitude.