In Calbayog City, Samar: Tornado hits coastal brgy; 85 houses toppled, 3 hurt

CEBU, Philippines - A tornado hit the coastal village of Binaliw at the Tinambacan District of Calbayog City in Samar province early morning yesterday, toppling 85 houses and injuring three men.

Superintendent Glenn Cinco, Calbayog City Police chief, identified the injured men as Rodelio Arabis, Ronel Espino and Rodney Basilan. Only Basilan was admitted to the Calbayog City Hospital as the other two only had slight injuries.

Cinco said most of the toppled houses were made of light materials, adding that the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council had an emergency meeting immediately after to discuss on what to do with the displaced families.

He said the principal of the Binaliw Elementary School had already identified a classroom to be used as the temporary evacuation center for the victims. Others were staying at the Catholic church in the district, which was also designated as the distribution site for foods of the evacuees.

Cinco however could not exactly determine how many were displaced from their homes, saying that some of them had opted to stay with their relatives whose houses were not destroyed by the tornado.

City social welfare officer Betty Jane Arnejo could not be reached for comment as she failed to answer calls on her mobile phone, while PAGASA has yet to issue a statement regarding the tornado that struck the village in Calbayog.

In a related development, heavy rains caused by a low pressure area hitting Borongan City in Eastern Samar have flooded many areas in Calbayog City.

A PAL Express plane from Manila that should have landed in Calbayog yesterday morning had to turn back because of the heavy rains and zero visibility in the city’s airport. (FREEMAN)