Tornado hits Zamboanga City coastal village

Over two dozen houses were damaged as a tornado hit a coastal village in Zamboanga City at 1:30 pm on Sunday, October 10.

Zamboanga City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Elmeir Jade Apolinario said they counted at least 26 houses damaged in Barangay Talon-Talon.

Villagers said very strong winds that moved in circular motion ripped off roofs and other parts of houses.

There were no reports of casualties.

Francis Selaras, a 22-year-old villager, said he was alone at home in Sitio Logoy Diutay when the winds damaged his family’s house.

Selaras was in a state of shock and was unable to speak for some time, and only spoke about his experience hours later.

He said he had never heard winds sound the way they did when the tornado struck, and he saw the roof and wooden parts of their house being flown and spat out into the sea by the tornado.

Barangay Talon-Talon Chairman Cashmir Candido said many villagers were traumatized, and were still afraid of the winds.

Disaster management authorities also received reports of wind-felled trees in the villages of Canelar, Sinunuc, and Camino Nuevo.

Bad weather since Sunday morning had forced the Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative to cut off power supply in the city for hours. The electricity was restored later in the day.

Zamboanga City Social Welfare and Development Officer Socorro Rojas said the local government would give the affected families financial assistance. – Rappler.com

Frencie Carreon is a Mindanao-based journalist and an awardee of the Aries Rufo Journalism Fellowship.