Tornado hits Mlang, Cotabato

MLANG, Cotabato - A powerful tornado hit this town on Sunday afternoon causing damage to infrastructure and houses in different locations, a local official said.

 

Mayor Joselito Pinol said the town of Mlang experienced heavy downpour Sunday afternoon which lasted for almost 20 minutes. The downpour was accompanied by strong winds.

 

“We supposed it (was) just an ordinary wind but while the rain became heavier, the speed of the wind also became stronger,” Pinol said in an interview.  

 

The twister caused the collapse of the old grandstand inside the Mlang Pilot Elementary School (MPES) and mini covered court.

The covered pathways inside the Mlang National High School (MNHS) compound were also damaged.

 

Pinol said that before the collapse of the MPES grandstand, residents near the school premises saw torn galvanized iron sheets flying in the air.

 

Some trees inside the two school campuses were uprooted and hit concrete structures.

 

Pinol also confirmed that there were 15 houses in Barangay Buayan that were hit by a falling big acacia tree. At least four houses were totally wrecked.

 

“I already instructed our Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) to validate the extent of tornado damage to constituents so that we can give them assistance,” Pinol said.

 

The mayor added the local government unit will allocate funds for assistance to affected constituents.

He also ordered the total demolition of the old grandstand as it is no longer fit for future use. —KG, GMA News