FELLED BY WINDS. Rescuers try to remove an acacia tree that was slammed into a house by strong winds in Mlang, Cotabato. PHOTO BY WILLIAMOR A. MAGBANUA
KIDAPAWAN CITY—Two persons were injured after strong winds uprooted an acacia tree the size of a car and slammed it into a house at the village of Buayan, Mlang town, Cotabato province.
The freak event happened on Monday (Aug. 3) during heavy rain that flooded low-lying villages in Mlang.
Jahzel Tumaob, Mlang’s municipal disaster risk reduction and management officer, identified those injured as Kristy Jane Ollage and her one-year-old daughter Krista Myrtle.
The child had bruises on the face while her mother suffered a back injury, according to Tumaob.
They are now recuperating in a local hospital.
PHOTO BY WILLIAMOR A. MAGBANUA
The felled tree also damaged the roof and wall of the victims’ house.
A three-year old child in another room of the house was spared from harm.
As of Tuesday (Aug. 4), at least 13 houses remained submerged in neck-deep flood waters as well as some 50 hectares of rice farms in the villages of Buayan, Lika, Bialong and New Lawaan.
Another five houses along the Mlang-Matalam highway were also submerged in flood.
Mlang Mayor Russel Abonado had asked the help of the Department of Public Works and Highways in creating a temporary drainage to flush the flood water from the highway.