Storm surges hit Visayas; 2 reported dead, over 100 families affected

Storm surges that generated big waves whipped coastal areas in the provinces of Negros Occidental and Iloilo, and in Cebu City that reportedly resulted in the death of two persons and the displacement of over 100 families, GMA News’s Saksi said on Wednesday. Saksi reported that residents didn’t expect to be hit by such disaster because the said areas were not affected by storms “Mina" and “Lando" that whipped areas in Luzon. The report said that in Valladolid town, in Negros Occidental, floodwater reached 1.9 meters because of the storm surge. Seventy of the close to 100 families affected by the calamity lost their homes. The nearby Binalbagan town was also affected by the surge, where two persons reportedly died. In Ermita village, Cebu City, big waves also flooded several homes. In Iloilo, several families spent their night on the streets after their houses were reportedly destroyed by the waves. Renato Solidum Jr, director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, told reporters on Wednesday that storm surge, and not tsunami hit the areas on Tuesday. He said tsumani would only occur under an intensity 8 earthquake. He also said that Tuesday’s magnitude 5.4 earthquake that rocked Metro Manila and other areas in Luzon had nothing to do with the surges. “Ang lindol, kahit nasa dagat kahapon ‘yan, ‘yong lakas n’ya hindi pa sapat para makapag-angat ng lupa sa ilalim ng tubig, at magkaroon ng pag-distorbo ng tubig dagat at magkaron ng tsunami (Even if the earthquake occurred in the sea, its strength won't be enough to trigger a tsunami)," he said. - GMANews.TV