THE City Government of Sipalay will provide financial assistance amounting to P100,000 to the nine families who were affected by lightning that killed six persons, including five children, and injured 17 others at Sitio Barasbarasan in Barangay Manlocahoc on Wednesday, April 18.
Councilor Dionilo Bogtae, chairman of the Committee on Peace and Order, and Public Safety, said Thursday, that each family will receive financial aid of P10,000.
On April 18, the 23 persons were at a sugarcane farm when they took shelter under a 10-wheeler truck that was parked beside a tree when it suddenly rained.
The truck was then hit by lightning that resulted to the deaths of Seminion siblings Charlyn, 12; Rose Ann, 12; Arbeniel, 10; and May-An, 9; Mery Tejoc, 35, and Mariel Montesino, 12, all residents of the said village.
Bogtae said they will also give burial assistance to the bereaved families of the six fatalities.
Among the 17 wounded victims were Lolena Seminion, 45; Meah Seminion, 19; Alma Seminion, 42; Jemmy Seminion, 52; Lory Tejoc, 35; Willam Sipaway, 63; Arnold Montesino; and four minors aged 2, 9, 12, and 14.
Bogtae said Len-Len Grapa, 29, five months pregnant, was also among the 17 injured individuals who only showed up the following day to the City Health Office after vomiting blood.
She was transferred to Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City.
Bogtae said Grapa went home after the incident due to fear but she sustained minor injuries.
As of 3 p.m. yesterday, only two victims are still confined at Lorenzo D. Zayco District Hospital in Kabankalan City while three others are presently confined at Merceditas J. Montilla District Hospital in Sipalay City.
Meanwhile, Bogtae appealed to the public to also help the victims.
