By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

At least 11 homes were seriously damaged last Sunday after a tornado swept through Barangays Guintorilan, Sibucao, and Batuan in San Enrique, Negros Occidental.
Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) head, Dr. Zeaphard Caelian, said, around 2:00 p.m., the town experienced heavy rainfall due to a localized thunderstorm.
During the rains a tornado developed with winds generated by the storm also knocked out trees and power lines in the area.
In total, PDRRMO recorded four homes were damaged in Barangay Guintorilan, one in Barangay Sibucao, and six in Barangay Batuan.
PDRRMO has not received any report of casualties following the incident and the town’s local disaster office is still trying to determine the estimated cost of damages.
Power in the said areas was later restored after crews from the Negros Occidental Electric Cooperative visited the areas to repair the damaged power lines.
Last September, a school building was destroyed, while several homes were damaged, after a tornado touched down at Purok Everlasting in Barangay Malaiba, Canlaon City, Negros Oriental.
Based on a report by the Canlaon City DRRMO, they received a call claiming a structure needed to be cleared away as it had reportedly been swept up by a tornado./DGB, WDJ