COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Some 30 houses and market stalls made of light materials were destroyed by whirlwinds that struck villages in Koronadal City and the coastal Parang town in Maguindanao on Friday.
Koronadal City officials said the affected families have been relocated to public gymnasiums and vacant government buildings.
Eight houses were uprooted in Barangay Zone III in Koronadal City, while many more, including vending stalls along the eastern coast of Parang, located in the first district of Maguindanao were blown away.
Strong winds destroy structures in Koronadal City. Philstar/John Unson
The Koronadal City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council provided the evacuees with food rations and non-food relief supplies.
Parang Mayor Ibrahim Ibay said municipal relief workers are now attending to the needs of his displaced constituents.
Ibay said he has reported the incident to the provincial government of Maguindanao and the Humanitarian Emergency Assistance and Relief Team of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.