Tornado hits Koronadal City

KORONADAL CITY, Philippines — A strong tornado, popularly known in Hiligaynon dialect as “buhawi,” battered a village here, destroying several houses, a barangay official said.

Rogelio Joquiño, chairman of Barangay Concepcion, this city, said the twister landed at the urban poor settlement area of his barangay past 4 p.m. and destroyed houses, agricultural crops and uprooted several trees. “Umulan ng malakas at pagkatapos dumilim at saka dumating ang napakalakas na hangin may kasamang ingay na parang kulog. Nakita ng mga tao na nagliparan ang mga bubong ng mga bahay. Ang iba wasak talaga dahil sa lakas ng buhawi na dumaan,” Joquiño said.

Joquiño said no casualties were reported when the twister struck in the area for less than 10 minutes. “The concerned government agencies are still assessing the damage,” Joquiño said. Citing the reports reaching her office, Jane Gabucan, city Social Welfare officer, said the tornado damaged nine houses and destroyed some farmlands, reportedly planted with palay and fruit crops, there. – Ramil Bajo