1 hurt, P600k worth of crops damaged as tornado hits Pangasinan sitio

One person was reported injured while some P600,000 worth of crops was damaged after a tornado hit a sitio in Asingan town in Pangasinan last weekend.

 

The tornado uprooted trees and caused iron sheets to fly off houses at Sitio Aragaag in Barangay Bantog, GMA Dagupan's Jasmin Gabriel reported Monday.

 

Residents said the tornado struck at about 4 p.m. Friday.

 

"Natamaan po lahat... Pati mga pananim, nakakatakot nga pero wala po tayong magagawa. Matindi kasi yung buhawi," said resident Boy Rapitao.

 

Engineer Em Laroya of the Asingan Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said the tornado damaged almost a hectare planted to crops, including mangoes.

 

"Parang almost one hectare yung sakahan na yan na about to harvest na pero wala na. Marami ring fully grown na mangga wala na rin di na mapakinabangan pa," Laroya said.

 

The MDRRMO estimated P600,000 in damage to agriculture, and noted at least seven houses were damaged.

 

Citing initial information, Laroya said one person was injured after being hit by a shard of glass, and needed eight stitches to close the wound.

 

The tornado also destroyed a funeral home - caretaker Oliver Garcia found the roof blown off and many of the caskets blown away.

 

Local officials are preparing assistance for the affected residents. — Joel Locsin/RSJ, GMA News