One injured in tornado

ONE person was injured while an estimated P200,000 worth of properties were destroyed when a tornado hit one of the 16 towns in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay, an official said Saturday.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) Regional Director Adriano Fuego said the tornado that occurred around 3 a.m. Saturday hit the town center of Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay.

Fuego said the public market and police station of Kabasalan, all located in Poblacion village, were partially destroyed as well as a warehouse in the nearby village of Goodyear.

The Poblacion village is Kabasalan’s town center since it is where the government and commercial establishments are located.

Wounded was Bebot Baricua, 45, a pedicab driver, according to Fuego.

Baricua, who was hit by a corrugated sheet, sustained foot injury, Fuego added.

He said the damaged to properties were estimated to have reached P200,000.

Meanwhile, he said the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council headed by Kabasalan mayor George Cainglet have convened in an emergency meeting hours after the incident.

They have agreed to allocate portion of the calamity fund to defray rehabilitation expenses, he said. – Bong Garcia