Strong winds damage La Castellana homes, public buildings

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — The La Castellana Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office in Negros Occidental is assessing damage to houses and infrastructure caused by strong winds from a localized thunderstorm that affected parts of the Negros Island Region on Thursday.

MDRRMO head John De Asis said strong winds occurred around 4 p.m., followed by a thunderstorm 20 minutes later.

Heavy rain followed, along with a reported hailstorm that lasted about five to 10 minutes.

De Asis said they learned about the hailstorm in Barangay Robles from a social media post.

When MDRRMO personnel visited the area, the marble-sized ice had started to melt.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration defines hail as ice that falls from severe thunderstorms.

There were no reports of damage from the hailstorm, but strong winds initially damaged two houses after trees fell in Barangay Robles, according to De Asis.

The roofs of a public market, a sports complex under construction, and an auditorium were also damaged.

Assessment is ongoing to verify and determine the extent of damage to other infrastructure.

No injuries were reported.

De Asis said the risk of hailstorm occurrence is high during thunderstorms, especially during the rainy season.

He advised the public not to be complacent and to monitor weather advisories from authorities for their safety.

“Be vigilant,” he said.

In case of similar incidents, De Asis encouraged the public to coordinate with the proper authorities.