Power cut in north Cebu as Ruby topples poles, damages structures
A resident of Daanbantayan do a quick step as he passes a house blown away by strong winds.
(CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)
Parts of northern Cebu were left in the dark as Typhoon Ruby made its presence felt in these areas yesterday.
Provincial Information Officer Ethel Natera said strong winds toppled seven electric poles from barangay Don Pedro to barangay Curva in Medellin town.
San Francisco town in Camotes Island and Bantayan town in Bantayan Island lost power last Saturday evening.
Compostela town also lost power last Saturday evening, but it was restored yesterday morning.
Natera said Ruby also affected banana plantations in the north and covered part of northern roads from Bogo City to barangay Maghawak in Medellin with debris. The roads remained passable.
Advisory
The typhoon forced more than 100,000 people from various parts of the province to evacuate to safer grounds as of Saturday night.
One person was reported dead in barangay Caputatan Norte in Medellin town as of 3 p.m yesterday.
But the victim, Amada Tobus, 62, died of terminal kidney problems. Medellin Mayor Ricky Ramirez said power was cut off at 11 p.m. on Saturday.
The town’s Facebook page posted an advisory at 10:53 p.m. on Saturday informing town residents of Cebeco’s plan for a power supply shutdown when winds got stronger.
Evacuees queue up to have their water bottles filled. (CDN PHOTO/ TONEE DESPOJO)
Badly damaged
Medellin was still without power supply as of 4 p.m. yesterday. But their water supply was still operational.
They had five generator sets for use in their water pumping stations located in barangays Poblacion–2, Kawit-1, Curva–1 and Lamintac–1.
Rainwater flooded parts of the Medellin Sports Complex as moderate to heavy raining affected their town on Saturday and Sunday morning. The roof of the Caputatan Elementary School was badly damaged.
Strong winds damaged the roof of the Panugnawan Health Center forcing barangay officials to transfer evacuees taking shelter at the health center into their elementary school.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) deployed personnel from their 1st Engineering Clearing Team to remove fallen trees and debris blocking the north road.
Double whammy
A 78-year-old man was reported missing in sitio Tawagan, barangay Poblacion, Medellin, northern Cebu at past 5 p.m.
Ricardo Apas was last seen near the fountain area of the barangay wearing a white jacket, white shorts and a red cap by her daughter Lenie Pobadura, who reported his disappearance.
In Daanbantayan, supertyphoon Ruby damaged the roof of the town’s Cultural Center that was damaged by supertyphoon Yolanda in November 8 last year.
No casualties were recorded as of 5 p.m. yesterday but some houses made of light materials were damaged especially those situated along the coastline.
“It’s very sad to think about it. The morale of the people will surely be affected especially that they’ve barely risen after Yolanda. Aside from that, it’s already December and Christmas is fast approaching. We were supposed to be in a mood for celebration,” Daanbantayan Mayor Augusto Corro said.
Blown away
Corro said he cannot provide an estimate of the damage as his disaster risk management unit have yet to conduct a rapid assessment. He said they will prioritize the clearing of roads.
The power went out in Daanbantayan at 3 a.m last Saturday.
In Malabuyoc town, 14-year-old Jimmy Saldo Cardente of barangay Cerdeña, died after touching a grounded entrance pipe in his home at 6 a.m. yesterday.
The towns of Sibonga and San Remigio also lost power while the City of Naga also experienced brownouts in some of their barangays. In Catmon town, Councilor Earl Oyas reported that the Naghalin River started to swell. In San Remigio town, the Gaway-Gaway River rose to 20 feet, trapping at least 50 families in the evacuation center on one side. The site was only accessible via 4×4 trucks through the mountain area.
In Toledo City, more than 2,000 evacuees are housed in three evacuation centers in barangay Poblacion.
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