Iloilo storm surge injures 10

At least 10 people were reported injured after waves from a storm surge hit coastal areas in Estancia town in Iloilo province Tuesday. Sudden gusts of wind caused the sea to swell and waves to hit boats in the area, according to a Wednesday report from Iloilo-based news site The Daily Guardian. The report said waves were up to one meter high, and coincided with the high tide. Estancia Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council director Eugene Tentativa said the waves capsized boats that were ferrying passengers between Isla de Gigantes and Sicogon Island. Tentativa said the surge injured 10 boat crewmen and destroyed 54 fishing, service boats and passenger boats. Estancia police chief Senior Inspector Ronan Betita said the surge lasted a few minutes but wiped out sea vessels docked at the town’s feeder port. The Daily Guardian said a similar surge hit Talisay village in Barotac Nuevo town. It damaged fish ponds in the area, with the water rising to one meter and flooding houses as far as 5 km inland. In Iloilo City, the report said strong winds damaged at least 59 homes in Bito-on village in Jaro district. A separate report on state-run Philippines News Agency quoted Estancia Vice Mayor-elect Butching Aclaro as saying the surge happened on the town's market day. It also quoted residents as saying they were caught by surprise when strong winds and the rising seawater hit the area. — DVM, GMA News