Heavy rain, ice, strong wind add to quake survivors’ misery

Quake evacuees in Makilala, Cotabato rebuild their makeshift shelters after these were destroyed by strong winds on Monday, Nov. 11. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MAKILALA, COTABATO—-First the quakes. Then days after, the wind and the rain.

Survivors of a series of earthquakes in this town, who were forced to leave their homes, had been displaced anew after their tent shelters were blown away or soaked by strong winds amid heavy rain and a hail storm on Monday, Nov. 11.

The disaster struck at least four evacuation sites that housed villagers in communities rendered too dangerous by several earthquakes that hit this town and other places in Mindanao starting on Oct. 16.

Gov. Shirlyn Macasarte said the strong winds blew away some of the tents, especially those made only of tarpaulin, soaking families wet in the rain.

The governor said the evacuation camps that had been hit were in the Barangay Poblacion Elementary School, Saguing Elementary School, Mindanao Institute of Science and Technology and Santos Lands.

Macasarte said the local government was preparing to relocate, again, the evacuees in a safer area.

The heavy rain, which came without warning and lasted for only about 15 minutes, toppled trees along the highway at the villages of Saguing and Malasila.

Netizens posted pictures of ice pellets that they said fell after the heavy downpour. No one was reported hurt./TSB