Typhoon causes massive blackout in 11 towns, 2 cities

CEBU, Philippines - Typhoon Quinta caused a massive power interruption in the northern part of Cebu but authorities reported no casualty in the affected areas.

Vessels from Cebu were allowed to sail yesterday afternoon after the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration (PAGASA) lifted storm signals at 5 p. m. yesterday.

Commander Rolando Punzalan of the Philippine Coast Guard- Cebu, however, did not allow to sail vessels for Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Manila, Guimaras and Bantayan Island due to rough seas.

“Based on the report from our detachment in Hagnaya, sea is still rough in the northern area so we restrict any kind of vessel to travel,” Punzalan said in a phone interview.

The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA)-7 also ordered the Coast Guard to advise vessels to undertake changes in their route or sailing schedules after some shipping companies requested for this in order to accommodate the request of stranded passengers.

PAGASA was criticized for some errors in its 5 p.m. bulletin last Tuesday.

It stated that storm signal number two was raised over northern Cebu while storm signal for the rest of the island and Bohol was lifted.

This prompted Punzalan to allow vessels for Bohol to sail.

However, it turned out that signal number two was still raised over Bohol while signal one was still raised over Cebu.

.Alfredo Quiblat of PAGASA explained that what happened was a clerical error, which was corrected in less than 30 minutes.

Massive blackout

Eleven towns and two cities experienced power outage as Typhoon Quinta hit the northern part of Cebu yesterday morning affecting about 57,000 consumers of the Cebu Electric Cooperative (CEBECO).

The affected areas are the towns of Tuburan, Tabuelan, Tabogon, Catmon, Sogod,Carmen, Medellin, San Remigio, Compostela, Borbon, and Daanbantayan as well as the cities of Bogo and Danao.

Engr. Dominador Binghay, manager of the Technical Division of CEBECO II, told The FREEMAN that electric backbone and power lines were damaged by uprooted trees.

Acting Governor Agnes Magpale reported that electricity in Bantayan and Camotes Islands was already restored as of 4 p.m. yesterday while 95 percent of power was also in areas covered by CEBECO.

The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) reported no casualty except for some minor injuries and damage brought about by the typhoon.

Strong winds with occasional rains affected crops, mostly bananas in the islands of Camotes and Bantayan in northern Cebu.

In Bantayan town, a fallen coconut tree destroyed one classroom and two pump boats were damaged while another coconut tree hit a house in Sta. Fe.

There were five families affected in barangays Bagatayam, Tabunok and Calumboyan in Sogod town.

More than a hundred people stranded at Hagnaya Port in San Remegio town and were given meals by the local government.

A landslide was also reported in Barangay Cansomoroy in Balamban but was immediately cleared.

Uprooted trees also blocked the national roads of Catmon and Tuburan which were immediately cleared.

Some 41 domestic flights were also canceled after Quinta made landfall in several parts of Visayas since Tuesday. — /MBG (FREEMAN)