Strong winds, rain displace families in Dumanjug

ABOUT 12 houses were destroyed when strong winds and a downpour hit two coastal barangays in Dumanjug town located 74.3 kilometers southwest of Cebu City late Tuesday afternoon.

P01 Dave John Faunillan of the Dumanjug police precinct said they learned of the incident at past 1 p.m after one of the affected home owners identified as Nicolize Betio reported it to them.

Oscar Tabada, Mactan chief of the state weather bureau Pagasa, said a southwest monsoon with winds that clocked 60 to 80 km per hour caused a funnel-shaped cloud to appear and wreck havoc on the homes of the residents.

Faunillan said residents of barangays Kanyuko and Tangil described it as a “buhawi” or water spout.

“Nakit-an nila ang nagtuyok nga hangin nga dunay tubig, pero gamay ra kuno (They saw the winds and some water but it was small), Faunillan said.

Betio’s house made of light materials was destroyed and her entire family ran out of the house when they noticed the water spout.

Among those displaced by yesterday’s incident were Gemma Alejandro, Lotilde Pasculado, Garciana Balucos, and Liezel Tumaquin of barangay Kanyuko and Marilou Arnado and Rufino Dupal-ag of barangay Tangil.

The seven families took temporary shelter at their barangay hall, while some of them went back to repair their homes. Correspondents Jhunnex Napallacan, Christine Emily Pantaleon and Carine M. Asutilla