TORNADO HITS ASINGAN

MORE than P1-million worth of agricultural crops and houses made of light materials were damaged when a tornado hit four barangays in Asingan on May 23. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.

Affected were Barangays Carosucan Norte, Calepaan, Toboy and Macalong.

The town’s Public Information Office said ampalaya and corn plantations in Barangay Carosucan Norte bore the brunt of the damage.

Carosucan Norte Barangay Captain Arturo Llagas said the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council immediately responded to calls for help like houses crushed by trees, toppled electric posts and dangling wires.

Roberto De Guzman, an ampalaya farmer, said one and a half hectares of his plantation were totally damaged. “I wanted to cry because of the big expenses I had incurred in that,” he said.

Isabelita Gangat, 84, said it was her first time to experience a tornado. She recalled that she just felt the rain was dripping from the roof only to find out that their mango tree fell on their house.

She said initially she thought nothing of the strong winds at that time but she took her grandchild and went to an abandoned house to seek shelter because they were soaked in rainwater.

Mayor Carlos Lopez Jr and the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office went to the damaged areas for validation and to extend possible help.

Recall that in 2015, Brgy. Bantog in Asingan, was struck by a tornado hurting one resident and causing more than half a million pesos in damages. (Eva Visperas/PIA)

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