Tornado damages 200 houses, injures 5 in Iloilo

At least 200 houses were damaged after a tornado struck villages in Iloilo City and the town of Oton early Tuesday morning Jan. 3.

The tornado hit Barangays Sta. Cruz and Sto. Dominggo in Arevalo district around 5:30 a.m., leaving 39 houses damaged.

Of the figure, six each were totally wrecked in the two villages while 15 and 12 houses were partially damaged in Sto. Dominggo and Sta. Cruz, respectively.

Four people were injured and no deaths were reported. The first two injuries were identified as Rolie Villarete, 9, and Vilma Villarete 68, of Sta. Cruz.

In Oton, 179 houses were damaged, of which 73 in Barangay Alegre and 106 in Barangay San Nicholas.

Punong Barangay Pedro Panique of Alegre said one person was injured. Eldorico Marañon, 40, suffered minor injuries.

Meanwhile, most of the damaged houses in San Nicholas belonged to Zone 4, according to Punong Barangay Eremeo Balinas Sr.

The figures are still subject for verification and validation process by the Municipal Social Welfare and Development (MSWD).IMT