Girl dies as heavy downpour, strong winds hit Lebak

LEBAK, Sultan Kudarat - An 13 year-old girl was killed when a fallen coconut tree hit him at the height of heavy downpour coupled by strong winds early Friday, a disaster official said.Myla Canete, Lebak chair of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC), identified the victim as Gina Benito, resident of Barangay Kinudalan, Lebak, Sultan Kudarat.Canete said Benito, a grade 8 pupil, was inside her home when a coconut tree toppled by strong winds fell on her house at 5 a.m.Canete said the coastal village of Tibpuan was also flood due to heavy down pour which worsened by sea high tide.Several houses were destroyed and fishermen could not go out fishing to high seas for a week due to torrential rain. Nobody was hurt in the Tibpuan village and no evacuation was reported, Canete said.Local officials suspended classes for elementary and highs school on Thursday and today, Canete added.Sultan Kudarat has been placed under state of calamity due to inclement weather that hit the province since June 24.More than 50,000 residents have been affected by flash floods in the towns of Lambayong, Lutayan, Esperanza, Bagumbayan, Isulan, President Quirino and Tacurong City.More than P300 million worth of agricultural crops were damaged by flash floods, the provincial disaster risk reduction and management council office said. (Ferdinandh Cabrera)