Houses, bancas destroyed as strong waves swamp Occ. Mindoro

Acoastal community in Occidental Mindoro was struck by strong waves brought by tropical storm “Quiel,” displacing 164 families or 620 individuals, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported on Sunday.

NDRRMC Executive Director Ricardo Jalad said relief items were already sent by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Mimaropa and Department of Social and Welfare Management (DSWD) to the affected families in Paluan town.

About 10 to 12 barangays were affected by the incident which started Wednesday to Friday.

“Mindoro was included in PAGASA’s [Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration] gale force wind advisory and worsened by the high tide at the time the strong wave struck,” Jalad explained.

Jalad said 90 houses were partially damaged while 26 houses were totally destroyed.

The livelihood of the community was also affected as 58 bancas were totally destroyed while 58 more were partially damaged. One banca was reported missing.

Luckily, no one was reported killed or hurt in the incident.

Last November 7, Jalad said a motorized banca with 12 passengers was capsized by strong waves in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.

All 12 passengers were rescued by authorities.

Jalad said the situation in the area already went back to normal.

“The seas along the coast lines of Occidental Mindoro area already calm,” he said.