Waterspout destroys houses in Zamboanga Sibugay coastal village

Structures destroyed by a waterspout that hit a coastal village in Olutanga, Zamboanga Sibugay. (Photo by OMAR INDANAN)

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines — A waterspout that hit the coastal village of Olutanga town, Zamboanga Sibugay destroyed several houses at 10 a.m. on Sunday, June 27.

A video uploaded by a certain Melquiades Lopez recorded waterspout, locally known as “buhawi,” as it moved from the sea towards the houses nearby.

Residents immediately evacuated the area.

Engineer Lloyd Franza, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management officer of Zamboanga Sibugay, confirmed the waterspout damaged two bancas (small boats) and five houses and injured two residents.

The residents fled to the barangay evacuation site but later returned home when authorities declared it was safe to go back.

According to Franza, a waterspout is a type of tornado that occurs over a body of water. He said it was considered less powerful compared to the more destructive tornado occurring on dry land.