Typhoon Karen: Power back in some areas; damage manageable so far

MANILA, Philippines (Philippines News Agency) — The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has restored power in various areas in Luzon which experienced power outages due to the onslaught of Typhoon Karen.

 

In an advisory issued at 2 p.m. on Sunday, the NGCP said it has restored power at franchise areas of various transmission lines and facilities in Luzon such as the La-Trinidad-Sablan 69-kV line and La Trinidad-Ampucao 69-kV line in Benguet; Nagsaag-Umingan 69-kV line in Pangasinan; Cabanatuan-Fatima 69-kV line and Cabanatuan-San Luis 69-kV in Nueva Ecija; Calaca-Balayan-Nasugbu/Calatagan 69-kV line and Batangas-Ibaan-Rosario 69-kV line, both in Batangas; and the Famy-Comon 69-kV line in Quezon.

 

Meanwhile, power is still down in franchise areas of other transmission facilities such as the La Trinidad-Sagada 69-kV line in La Union; Batangas-Bolboc 69-kV line in Batangas and the Lopez-Tagkawayan 69-kV line in Quezon.

 

"Inspection and restoration of lines in the affected areas will be in full swing as soon as the weather allows," the NGCP said.

 

The NGCP, meanwhile, assured the conduct of necessary preparations and precaution to minimize the effect of the typhoon’s onslaught to its facilities through “ensuring the availability of hardware materials and supplies necessary for the repair of damages to facilities, as well as the positioning of line crews in strategic areas, to facilitate immediate restoration work.”

While it's still to complete details regarding the damage inflicted by the typhoon on the country, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director Ricardo Jalad said the "worst is over" and the situation "very manageable."

 

Based on their monitoring so far, the NDRRMC chief said they are still to detect any casualties or deaths caused by the weather disturbance.

 

He added that initial assessment indicates that the damage caused by Karen seemed light and consists of ripped rooftops, fallen trees, some floods, minor landslides and power outages.

 

Jalad said they are still getting updates to give the public a more accurate picture of the typhoon's aftermath.

 

The NDRRMC chief is hoping that the initial impressions will remain true.

 

And while the worst is over for Karen, Jalad said they are now monitoring a severe tropical storm, with the international name Haima, which is expected to enter the Philippine area of responsibility by Monday.

 

As this develops, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported that around 1,884 families or 9,680 persons were displaced by the typhoon in Regions II (Cagayan Valley), III (Central Luzon), CALABARZON and V (Bicol).

 

The department also reported that the Response Cluster has ensured the pre-positioning of P1.2 billion worth of standby funds for the areas in need of assistance.

 

Five road sections in Ifugao, Catanduanes, Albay and Camarines Sur are not passable, as of this posting, due to minor landslides and rockfalls.

 

Clearing operations are now ongoing. Power outages are reported in some areas in Quezon, Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte, Albay and Sorsogon along with the entire Catanduanes.