Houses, rice farms damaged by strong winds in Cotabato town

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KIDAPAWAN CITY, Cotabato – At least three residential houses were totally wrecked while eleven others were partially damaged when a strong wind swept through a village in the town of Mlang, Cotabato on Thursday afternoon, a disaster official said.

Louie Chiva, the town’s municipal disaster risk reduction and management officer, said the strong wind caused by intense thunderstorms destroyed the residential houses in Barangay Buayan around 3 p.m.

No one was hurt since most of the residents were out tilling their farms when the incident took place, Chiva added.

Most of the damaged houses were made of light materials.

READ: 85 houses destroyed by strong winds, heavy rains in Cotabato

Chiva said the wind was so strong that it blew away the roofs of the houses.

The disaster official also confirmed that vast farmland newly planted with rice were flattened by the strong wind.

The municipal agriculture office is yet to determine the extent of damage to the farms.

Mlang Mayor Russel Abonado immediately sent food packs as initial assistance to the affected families.

Abonado said the affected families are temporarily staying with their relatives.