Strong winds topple trees in Manila, no one hurt

Strong winds struck a part of Manila late Wednesday afternoon amid heavy rainfall, Manny Vargas reported on Super Radyo's DZBB.

The residents from Sta. Cruz, Manila said they noticed the tornado wrecking havoc at a few minutes after 5 p.m.

Several trees were toppled by the strong winds.

“Sobrang lakas…’Yan oh, ang lalaki ng sanga pero nabali. Buti kamo umano sa bubungan namin…hindi naman nasira,” Lolet, a resident, said.

(The winds were strong. If you look at that tree, it has huge branches but they broke. We’re just lucky it did not fall on our roof so it was not damaged.)

The operations of a construction group were also affected.

“Gumalaw lang siya  (backhoe) pero hindi natulak. Bumagsak lahat ng mga barikada,” a worker said.

(The backhoe moved. Our barricades fell.)

GMA Resident Meteorologist Nathaniel "Mang Tani" Cruz said it is difficult to identify the weather phenomenon as a tornado or buhawi because only one side was seen by the witness as recorded in the video.

"Mayroon ding tinatawag na gust front ang isang tstm (thunderstorm) na sandali lang din yung napakalakas na hangin," he added.

(There is also gust front of a thunderstorm, which causes strong winds in a short span of time).

No residents were hurt in the incident, the Manila Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) said.

The MDRRMO is currently patrolling in all areas in the city to remove toppled trees blocking the passageways. -- Sundy Locus/BAP, GMA News