Residents in tornado-prone areas told to relocate

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — The Iloilo Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) advised families living along identified tornado alley areas in the province to transfer to safer places, as typhoon Yolanda is about to hit Panay island today.

Tornado alley is a colloquial term used where tornadoes are most frequent. PDRRMO executive officer Jerry Bionat said the recent tornado incidents recorded in four towns of Oton, Pavia, Barotac Nuevo and San Miguel were already identified as tornado alley.

Bionat said there is no remedy for an area considered as tornado alley except to vacate the area or be prepared for any eventuality. "This is a natural calamity or hazard.  The tornado will keep coming back as long as the area is considered a tornado alley," he said.

Bionat said other towns with history of tornado incidents were Pototan, Badiangan and Dumangas, among others.

In Iloilo, this week's tornado incidents damaged 185 houses, of which 115 partially and 70 totally.

Bionat said a state of calamity cannot be declared in the affected areas since the extent of damage is minimal or did not affect at least 20 percent of the areas' population.

He said he has already submitted the partial list of the damaged houses to Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. for the release of financial assistance. (FREEMAN)