Several motorists were stranded temporarily after a large tree toppled over and blocked a road amid strong winds and heavy rains in General Santos City.

According to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), motorists were advised to take alternative routes while the road was impassable.

Authorities have since removed the tree to clear the road. The road has been reopened to vehicle traffic.

Meanwhile, a lightning struck an old house in Barangay Apopong.

The owner of the house reportedly experienced trauma after witnessing how a lightning bolt hit the house, which caught fire quickly.

“Naigo gyud sa kilat, nakita gayud nako. Pagkita nako sa kilat miana gyud siya, mi point gyud tu siya sa payag…Na trauma ko karon,” house owner, Erlinda Alera, said.

“Nakaadto ang bumbero pero wala na kasulod pero natabangan ra kay gihinay hinayan og bubo,” Barangay councilman Rodel Sedonyo said.

The fire spread quickly as the house was made of light materials. No one was reported hurt in the incident.

“These are natural hazards kinakailangan lang po nating ayusin yung ating kahandaan…kalangan nating maging adaptive… unang una, kinakailangan pagtibayin natin yung ating mga kabahayan,” CDRRMO Head, Dr. Bong Dacera, said.

State weather bureau PAGASA said the bad weather was due to the combined effects of the easterlies and the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).