1 injured, 234 homes damaged by whirlwind

Bacolod City, Negros Occidental — One was injured while 234 homes were either damaged or destroyed by a whirlwind that hit the towns of Hinigaran and Pontevedra on Tuesday, reports from the field showed yesterday.

The person who was injured was identified as Rengie Mirano, 26. He was confined at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City.

In six barangays in Pontevedra town, 27 houses were destroyed while 89 were damaged, Pontevedra Mayor Jose Maria Alonso said.

The Pontevedra villages hit by the whirlwind were San Isidro, Don Salvador Benedicto, MH Del Pilar, Miranda, Canroma and Buenavista Gibong.

In five villages in Hinigaran, 40 houses were destroyed and 78 were damaged, provincial Social Welfare Officer Liane Garcia said. The whirlwind whipped the villages of Miranda, Tuguis, Gargato, Anahaw and Campaog in Hinigaran. /INQUIRER