LINAMON, Lanao del Norte (MindaNews / 19 July) – Sixteen towns in Lanao del Norte experienced a power outage starting around 3:45 p.m. Friday after strong winds and heavy rainfall caused by tropical cyclone “Crising” toppled trees, hitting lateral powerlines and disabling a 69-kV line connected to the Bagumbayan Substation in Kauswagan town. The affected towns include Balo-i, Matungao, Linamon, Poona Piagapo, Kauswagan, Bacolod, Maigo, Magsaysay, Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Nunungan, Kapatagan, Savador, Sapad, Kolambugan, Tubod, and Baroy. The blackout occurred ahead of a scheduled power interruption on July 19 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Roy Secuya, Operations Officer of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, confirmed a child died Friday evening when a fallen tree hit their residence in Barangay Santo Niño, southwest of Tubod. The Municipal DRRMO of Tubod provided no further details. PDRRMO head Abelisa Manzano stated the Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis Team is assessing damages to houses in Bacolod, Kolambugan, and Kapatagan, while awaiting reports from other MDRRMOs. Sherwin Mañada, general manager of Laneco, reported power was mostly restored in the western part of the province after overnight clearing operations. A fallen tree hit a wing van in Kapatagan, and traffic was stalled in Kolambugan after a tree blocked the national highway. In Iligan City, a van assigned to the Office of the City Vice Mayor and Sanguniang Panglunsod was damaged by a fallen tree near the legislative building Friday afternoon, with no reported injuries. (Richel V. Umel/MindaNews)
