ILOILO CITY, Philippines – It took four hours for policemen and rescuers to take out a 48-year-old woman who was pinned to death when a century-old tamarind tree got uprooted and crashed on her owner-type jeep Tuesday evening at the plaza of Arevalo district in this city.
The jeep, which served as a food kiosk or mini-cafeteria, was reduced to smashed debris with its owner, Madeline Caminade of Quezon St. in Arevalo, still inside it. With the aid of a chain saw, authorities were able to take policemen and rescuers to take out her body from the wreckage.
Caminade was still rushed to the Western Visayas Medical Center but was declared dead on arrival.
Senior Insp. Lea Peña, chief of Arevalo Police Station, said that the incident also wounded five persons, including the fatality’s son Mark Jan Caminade, Lilibeth Cameros and Lea Joy Nicolas who were treated at the nearby police station for minor injuries.
The two other injured, Nonie Candider, 18, of Tubungan, Iloilo, and John Mark Gallero of Tigbauan, Iloilo, were also rushed to the WV Medical Center for injuries. They were Caminade’s customers, taking their meal when the incident happened.
Peña said the tree was uprooted after strong winds battered the area, simultaneous with the power interruption that hit the metropolis at the time.
“Kung nagkataon na hindi masama ang panahon at nabuwal ang puno, baka marami pang nabiktima,” Peña said citing that employees of a nearby supermarket used to take their meals at Caminade’s kiosk before going home. - THE FREEMAN