Tornado hits 48 houses

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Four houses were totally destroyed while 44 others were damaged due to a reported tornado or severe wind caused by the enhanced southwest monsoon or “habagat” in two areas in Negros Occidental on Aug 3, 2019.

A report from the Provincial Disaster Management Program Division (PDMPD) indicated that 31 houses were affected in Pontevedra town and 17 in La Carlota City.

In La Carlota City, 17 families and 68 individuals at Barangay RSB were affected by the tornado. The affected households were temporarily sheltered at the covered court.

Roberto Aizpuru Jr., head of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), said the tornado damaged 17 houses mostly made of light materials.

Aizpuru said a big star apple tree was also uprooted causing temporary road closure in the area for several hours.

Three other trees were also uprooted and fell on some of the houses.

But the situation went normal after the clearing operation.

In Pontevedra town, four houses were destroyed while 27 others were damaged at Barangay Canroma.

Fairy Grace Andrico, head of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), said 31 families and 149 individuals were affected by the tornado but no evacuation was reported.

Andrico also said that flooding was also reported at Barangay San Juan due to a storm surge.

She said 36 families were affected by the ankle-deep water level in the said coastal village.

“We were supposed to have force evacuation but the water slowly subsided,” she added.

No casualties were reported in the two areas due to the tornado and heavy rains.

Meanwhile, 40 families were evacuated at Barangays Taculing and Pahanocoy here last Saturday due to flooding.

CDRRMO cluster head Joemarie Vargas said the water was three-feet deep but the affected households returned to their houses after the water subsided.

He also said that a strong gusty wind hit one house in Barangay Cabug here but no injuries were reported that day.