Tornado destroys 50 homes in 2 Mindoro Oriental villages

At least 50 houses in Mindoro Oriental province were damaged after a tornado ripped through two villages there Saturday night. Radio dzRH on Sunday cited initial reports that the tornado passed through Cawayan and Sagana villages in Bongabong town at 7:30 p.m., Saturday. State weather forecasters on Saturday had warned of flash floods and landslides in Southern and Central Luzon as a low-pressure area passed through Southern Luzon. As of Sunday morning, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the low-pressure area crossing south of Luzon had become active. Pagasa said flash floods and landslides loom in Central and Northern Luzon. It also forecast monsoon rains for the whole of Luzon. The dzRH report cited initial information reaching Chief Supt. Luisito Palmera, regional disaster coordinating council head, that the tornado also knocked down some electric posts. The affected families sought refuge at the local church, while others stayed at the houses of relatives. No one was reported injured as of this posting. The regional disaster coordinating council and other local authorities prepared relief goods for the affected families, the radio report said. - GMANews.TV