Bicol hit by blackout as lightning strikes transformer

LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines  – A strong lightning that struck a 10-MVA transformer at around 3:30 p.m. Sunday had plunged almost half of Legazpi City and portions of its adjacent towns into darkness until yesterday.

Lilian Guillermo, chief meteorological officer of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration confirmed that a thunderstorm from 2 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. was recorded north-northeast of Albay.

“Probably the transformers’ lightning arresters were damaged when struck by the strong lightning,” Guillermo told The STAR.

Albay Electric Cooperative general manager Pol Lopez said the damaged sub-station transformer triggered a blackout that affected two big universities, the regional center site housing more than 30 regional government agencies, three subdivisions, and the Legazpi Oil.

Lopez said Aleco is considering a load-sharing scheme if the damaged transformer could not be repaired or replaced immediately.

He said this scheme will result in rotating brownouts in Legazpi City due to low-voltage problem.