A two-year-old girl was pinned to death while 27 houses were destroyed due to the southwest monsoon enhanced by Tropical Storm Maring in this city, officials disclosed Monday.
Abraham Rojas, the chairperson of Barangay Tugbungan, identified the fatality only as “Athena”, of Royal Lane Street in the village.
Rojas said the toddler was pinned by an old gmelina tree that fell due to strong winds on Sunday afternoon.
He said Athena was at the front section of their house when pinned down by the falling tree around 2 p.m.
Rojas said the victim was rushed to the hospital but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.
“We have to cut the tree with a chainsaw to be able to retrieve the child and rush her to the hospital,” he said.
At about the same time, Dr. Elmeir Jade Apolinario, the city disaster risk reduction management office (CDRRMO) chief, said 27 houses were destroyed when a twister hit two barangays here.
Apolinario said that 26 of the 27 houses that were destroyed were in Logoy Grande, Barangay Talon-Talon, and the remaining one was in Barangay Lumbangan.
No casualty was reported in the two villages, he said.
The CDRRMO quickly responded to the two villages as the city social welfare office conducted assessment and validation for the grant of financial assistance and food packs.
Strong winds also uprooted trees damaging houses and establishments as well as causing traffic in Barangays San Jose Gusu, Sinunuc, and Pasonanca.
At present, this city is still experiencing occasional strong winds and scattered rain showers due to the prevailing southwest monsoon caused by the storm.
Source: Philippines News Agency
