The northern part of Iloilo province was pummelled by Typhoon Ursula on Christmas Day, Dec. 25.
Ursula (international name: Phanfone) made its fourth landfall at 2:30 a.m. in Gigantes Islands, Carles town.
Heavy rains flooded several areas in northern Iloilo. A bust terminal in Balasan town, and portions of roads and farmlands in the towns of Sara, Estancia, Concepcion, Batad, and Lemery, among others, were swamped by floodwaters.
Violent winds uprooted trees, downed poles and toppled houses.
The extent and estimated cost of damage left by the typhoon has yet to be determined.
As of 6 p.m. today, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG-6) recorded six deaths in Iloilo province. The fatalities include three each in the towns of Balasan and Batad.
There were three missing people in Batad and one in Passi City.
The towns of Estancia, Carles, Batad, and Balasan are currently without electricity.
Iloilo Electric Cooperative (ILECO III) said it could take days before power is fully restored in the areas.
Power lines, according to the power distributor, were severely damaged by the typhoon.
“Sa subong, wala pa sang target date kon san-o gid mabalik ang power supply,” ILECO III said in a statement.
“Ginatinguhaan gid sang aton mga linemen kag technical engineers nga mapasiga ang 4 ka banwa sa madali nga panahon,” it added.
The towns of Concepcion, Ajuy, Barotac Viejo, Lemery, San Dionisio, San Rafael, and San Enrique are also experiencing intermittent power outage.
A total of 928 were stranded in different ports in the city and province of Iloilo as of 12 noon.
The Iloilo-Capiz Road and Balasan-Carles Road are not passable to all types of vehicles due to “severe flooding,” according to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-6).
Ursula (international name:Phanfone) is one the country’s stongest storms this year.IMT
Photo by Lormy Caman
