By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

A tornado swept through Barangay Minapasuk in Negros Occidental’s Calatrava town yesterday afternoon, destroying several houss and structures. 

Based on initial information given by local residents, the winds generated by the tornado were strong enough that the roof of the barangay’s local daycare center was torn away.

The tornado also uprooted several trees in the area which caused some roads to be temporarily blocked, while others crashed into the houses causing heavy damage.

In a weather forecast issued by Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the areas of the Visayas, including Negros Occidental, are expected to experience cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms due to the trough generated by Tropical Storm “Pepito.”

PAGASA reported that as of 3:00 p.m. yesterday, “Pepito” was last spotted 145 kilometers east of Baler, Aurora with maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph), and gusts at 90 kph.

The storm was moving west northwest at 30 kph. No tropical cyclone warning signal was issued for the Visayas.

As of press time, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and the Calatrava Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office are still assessing the damage caused by the tornado./DGB, WDJ