"Tornado" destroys homes in North Cotabato

KIDAPAWAN CITY – At least 10 houses made of light materials were destroyed after what residents believed was a freak tornado that hit farming communities in Barangay Buayan, Mlang, North Cotabato Sunday night, a belated report showed.

Bernardo Tayong, Mlang Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (MDRRM) officer, said strong wind during heavy down pour at past 6 p.m. totally destroyed four homes while the rest sustained partial damages.

A huge mango tree and several coconut trees were also toppled down and hit several homes.

In 2015, several tornadoes also hit Barangay Buayan and adjacent Barangay Sangat, damaging more than P2 million worth of properties and agricultural crops flattened by the strong wind.

Arman Bong Salcedo, a resident, said the adjoining villages of Sangat and Buayan as well as nearby villages are regular route of strong winds and tornadoes even without a typhoon.