Hailstorm hits town in Compostela Valley
TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte, Philippines – Hailstones the size of marbles rained down on the center of Monkayo town in Compostela Valley prior to a thunderstorm Tuesday afternoon, police and disaster officials said.
No one was injured but the roofs of some structures at the public market in the town center, called Barangay (village) Poblacion, were damaged by a heavy downpour and strong winds that came after the hail past 4 p.m., said Senior Police Officer 3 Setchuan Te, investigation chief of Monkayo police station.
A part of the roof of the Bureau of Fire Protection building in was torn and blown away by the high winds, said Raul Villocino, Compostela Valley disaster action officer.
The “hailstorm” was due to a thunderstorm prevailing over the municipality, said Gerry Pedrico, chief weatherman of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) based in Davao City.
“It occurs when ice crystals in the atmosphere come in contact with water vapor, and when favorable atmospheric conditions are present these crystals fall to the ground as hail pellets. This phenomenon could happen here in the region any time,” Pedrico told Inquirer by mobile phone.
Villocino said he had yet to receive any report on damage to agriculture.
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