Tornado demolishes dozens of homes in the Pampanga coastal village, Philippines

Some 100 persons were left homeless when a powerful whirlwind hit a coastal village in Macabebe town in Pampanga early Friday night, authorities said Saturday.

Inspector Benjie Gallano, Macabebe deputy police chief, said at least 19 houses were damaged by the tornado that struck past 6 p.m. No casualty was reported.

“Most of the houses are made of light materials situated near the shoreline,” said Gallano. The zero casualty count was attributed to the fact that residents quickly abandoned the place when they noticed that the whirlwind was heading to their direction.

Gallano said flying debris, including galvanized iron sheets from houses were found in nearby communities after the disaster.

Residents in Sitio Mindanao, Barangay San Esteban, are actually used to tornadoes, he said, but Friday’s whirlwind was quite powerful.

Local disaster risk reduction and management officials rushed relief goods and financial assistance to affected residents temporarily housed in government evacuation centers. Others took shelter with relatives in nearby communities.

Authorities have yet to determine the cost of damage.

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