By Glazyl Masculino BACOLOD CITY - Forty-eight houses were reportedly hit by a tornado, destroying seven and damaging 41 others in two areas in Negros Occidental Saturday morning. A tree fell on one of the 17 houses allegedly hit by a tornado at Brgy. RSB, La Carlota City, Negros Occidental Saturday. (JE EM Photo via Facebook) Of the total figure, 31 houses of those affected were in Pontevedra town and 17 others in La Carlota City. According to Provincial Disaster Management Program Division (PDMPD) head Zeaphard Caelian, the tornado or severe wind was caused by the enhanced southwest monsoon or “habagat.” In La Carlota City, three houses were destroyed while 14 others were damaged, affecting 17 families and 68 individuals at Brgy. RSB. Roberto Aizpuru Jr., head of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), said the tornado passed by the said village around 10:30 a.m., hitting houses mostly made of light materials. Aizpuru said a big star apple tree was also uprooted causing a temporary road closure in the said area for several hours. Three other trees were also uprooted and fell on some of the houses. Clearing operation is ongoing. Aizpuru said some of the affected households were temporarily sheltered at the covered court. In Pontevedra town, four houses were destroyed while 27 others were damaged at Brgy. Canroma, affecting 31 families and 149 individuals. Fairy Grace Andrico, head of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO), said they received the report around 10:15 a.m. Andrico also said that flooding was also reported at Brgy. San Juan due to storm surge. She said that 36 families were affected by the ankle high-water level in the said coastal village. “We were supposed to have forced evacuation but the water slowly subsided,” she added. No casualties were reported in the two areas due to the tornado and heavy rains.