CEBU, Philippines - Residents of Barangay Alaska Mambaling, Cebu City, went running for safety when a tornado struck the barangay yesterday afternoon, damaging 30 houses in three sitios and the barangay sports complex.
Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office Executive Director Simeon Romarate said the tornado formed at around 2 p.m.
“Didto ko sa South Road Properties. Nakakita ko nga niitom ang panganod niya nikalit lang bawd ang dagat,†he said.
No serious injuries were reported.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration Mactan confirmed that it was really a tornado that formed around 1:45 p.m. yesterday.
Alfredo “Al†Quiblat Jr., chief meteorological officer of PAGASA Mactan said they sighted cumulonimbus clouds forming over Mambaling. However, he said the formation the tornado was not detected by their radar because it was out of service at the time.
“Tornado to siya. Wala nakit-i sa radar kay naguba. Ang among observer nakit-an niya nga naay developing thunderstorm cloud lang, Southwest of Mactan. Wa na namo nakit-i with the naked eye kay layo man ang atong opisina,†he said.
Quiblat debunked reports that another tornado also occurred in Talisay City.
“Imposible nga duha. Kato mi-travel lang padulong sa Talisay City area,†he said, adding that the tornado dissolved within an hour.
According to Mambaling barangay captain Willy Go, sitios Bajaoan, Viking, and Nava in Mambaling were affected by the tornado. He also said only 29 houses were damaged while two people suffered minor injuries while running for safety.
The tornado also destroyed the roof of the sports complex in Sitio Viking.
“Dako kaayo siya og damage which is usa unta to sa atong evacuation area kun simbako naay mga kalamidad nga moabot,†Go said.
He added that affected residents in Badjaoan refused to heed the advice of the authorities to evacuate.
“Dili lang nato ni sila mapugos kay og buot huna-hunaon, naa ta’y Alaska Elementary School, naa ta’y covered court para sa evacuation kun mobalhin sila, pero usually ani nila, dili man biyaan ilang balay,†he said.
Romarate said CCDRMO has yet to come up with a finalized damage assessment of the area after which they will immediately attend to the needs of the victims.
John Lignuwan, a resident of Badjaoan, remembers when the tornado hit their area.
“Nang-ambak nalang mi sa dagat, nahadlok man kami sa kusog kaayo nga hangin. Ug nisunod rako sa mga Badjao pod nga niambak pag-abot sa buhawi,†said Lignuwan.
Dionesio Etcuban, who lives near the sports complex, said they were playing volleyball inside when the tornado hit and were almost carried off.
“Nagduwa mi og volleyball sa sulod, mga 50 kabuok tao diri sa gym unya nahibulong mi nga kusog kaayo ang hangin, naglumbaanay mi og panggunit sa bongbong sa gym kay kon dili mi manggunit, manglupad man mi,†Etcuban said.
He said they were thankful that the tornado came at daytime, adding things would have been different if it happened at night.
Trisikad driver Jeric Sta. Ana, 23, said he saw what he thought was a flock birds, it turned out to be debris already thrown in the air by the tornado.
Resident Aniya Daomani said they thought that the dark cloud was smoke from a fire. They were just shocked when the tornado came and destroyed their houses.
Daomani and other victims appealed to the city government for any assistance to help them rebuild their homes.
Go also appealed the residents in the area not to take advantage of the situation and pose as victims so they can get assistance.
Power in some areas in Mambaling went down after the tornado. According to Visayan Electric Company spokeswoman Theresa Sederiosa one primary pole was broken and several primary lines were severed, leaving about 200 houses without power.
Trisikad drivers in Barangay Punta Princesa reported feeling the tornado pass, although by then it had already weakened. Tisa Barangay Captain Philip Zafra also said they felt the strong wind, but it caused no damage. — Mitchelle Palaubsanon, Juffer Denn Bornales and Lara Praz Mayol/BRP (FREEMAN)