Hail, whirlwind pound Pinamungajan barangay

CEBU, Philippines - At least 10 houses were destroyed when a whirlwind ravaged a mountain barangay in Pinamungajan yesterday afternoon.

Police said around 50 residents from Sitios Sampaguita, Upper and Lower Luy-a of Barangay Lamac were affected in the incident.

Insp. Raymond Enriquez, chief of Pinamungajan Police Station, told The FREEMAN that the whirlwind hit the area around 1:15 p.m.

Enriquez said prior to the incident, residents heard a loud thunder followed by a hail which lasted for a few minutes.

A few seconds later, the whirlwind appeared and ravaged the area, he said.

He said some residents managed to flee while others were trapped inside their houses, which were hauled up by the whirlwind.  

“One house was lifted a few meters in the air and was thrown to the other side of the road. It was completely destroyed,” he said.

One of the houses destroyed was owned by Barangay Lamac Captain Maria Flores Cantero.

“Someone was inside the house when it was lifted in the air. The man was lucky he only sustained several bruises and cuts to his body,” Enriquez said.

Enriquez said while several houses were spared by the raging whirlwind, the neighboring structures were completely destroyed.   —/LPM (FREEMAN)