14 hurt by falling tree in Sorsogon resort

LEGAZPI CITY— At least 14 people were injured when a Pacific walnut tree, known locally as dao, fell in a hot spring resort in Irosin town in Sorsogon province on Thursday morning.

Irosin police said the tree, whose trunk is already in a state of decay, snapped in half and toppled over the guests of the resort located in Monbon village at around at 11:45 a.m.

The injured resort guests were identified as Arnelo Medez, Cherry Quintal, Amelia Erlano, Raman Medez, all from Daraga town in Albay; Arnette Ebuenga and Edna Austria from Caloocan City; Rowena, Zephyr, Rebecca, all surnamed Obaldo, and Marthesa Lim from Matnog town in Sorsogon; Nelson Edlano from Bulacan; and Junny Cabria, Carol Manrique, and Edna Manrique from Legazpi City.

Chief Inspector Edwin Adora, Irosin police chief, told the Inquirer, 11 of the guests were brought  to a hospital for treatment but were discharged on the same day.

Fritzie Michelena, Irosin’s disaster risk and reduction management officer, said this is the first time the incident happened in the resort./ee