The Manila Times

Over 860K households lost power after deadly quake — DOE

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Energy (DOE) said on Monday that around 864,000 households experienced power interruptions after a deadly 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck off southern Mindanao. This came as the DOE has begun coordinating with the National Electrification Administration (NEA) and the National Power Corp. (NPC) through its Task Force on Energy Resiliency, and have mobilized rapid response teams to assess energy infrastructure and advance power restoration efforts. Based on initial reports, the DOE said several areas in the region experienced power interruptions, particularly in South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Davao, among others. The department added that it had directed the affected distribution utilities in these areas to prioritize restoring power to critical facilities, especially hospitals and evacuation centers. Meanwhile, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines said efforts to restore transmission line capabilities affected by the temblor continued. It said transmission services were fully restored in Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, Davao de Oro, and Davao Oriental at 8:20 a.m.; and Maguindanao, North Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat at 8:33 a.m. Services were only partially restored in South Cotabato at 10:22 a.m. and at Sarangani at 1:23 p.m. Those in General Santos City remain down at press time. The DOE said it was also coordinating with other relevant stakeholders to monitor the readiness of backup power systems and help ensure their continued operation as assessment and restoration efforts are ongoing. Communication efforts are also being exerted to ensure that power supply is uninterrupted and the flow of petroleum products continue. "As aftershocks continue to be recorded in affected areas, damage assessments and system inspections are currently proceeding with caution to ensure the safety of line workers, engineers, and emergency response personnel on the ground," Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said. “The safety of our communities and our energy workers remain our foremost priority. Our teams are on the ground working closely with electric cooperatives, critical sectors, and other energy sector stakeholders to assess conditions and restore electricity services safely, responsibly, and at the soonest possible time,” she added. The quake struck on Monday morning at a depth of 35 kilometers (22 miles), about 24 km west of Sarangani province, the United States Geological Survey said. The temblor has killed at least 15 people, collapsed buildings and triggered tsunami warning across the region. WITH AFP