Whirlwind destroys 76 houses in Negros

Bacolod City — At least 76 houses were destroyed on Tuesday afternoon when a whirlwind struck five barangays in the municpality of Pontevedra and another in adjacent town of Hinigaran in Negros Occidental, officials said.

The whirlwind also toppled trees and power lines, plunging Pontevedra into darkness on Tuesday night, said Mayor Jose Maria Alonso.

The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office was still collating the number of affected families.

Initial field reports showed that 62 persons were evacuated to a public elementary school and 18 others were in a day care center in barangay San Isidro, Pontevedra.

Food assistance was delivered to the evacuation centers, said Alonso.

Worst hit in Pontevedra was barangay Isidro where 55 houses were destroyed. Five homes were destroyed each in barangays MH Del Pilar, Miranda and Canroma and three in barangay Buenavista Gibong, according to Pontevedra municipal social welfare officer Terry Dimalalauan.

Also affected was barangay Miranda in Hinigaran, where three houses were destroyed. Miranda lies on the boundary of the two towns.

Alonso said that only one person was reported to have suffered minor injuries.

Pontevedra Councilor Jimmy Gaban, civil defense coordinator, said the whirlwind hit between 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Residents said it was drizzling when they heard a whizzing sound approaching before the whirlwind hit, he said.

He said the vertically rotating column of air was about 50 meters high and swept through the area for about three minutes.

Houses, made mostly of light materials, were flattened and roofs were seen atop trees, leaving many families homeless for the night, Gaban said.

Mayor Alonso said toppled tress had to be cut to clear pathways.  /INQUIRER