Severe Tropical Storm Opong causes power outages for over 640,000 customers

Severe Tropical Storm Opong has caused widespread power interruptions affecting over 640,000 customers, primarily in Samar and Bicol provinces.

The storm's strong winds damaged several power lines and toppled electric posts, leading to the outages.

A total of 16 electric cooperatives are experiencing partial power interruptions, while five are in total blackout, including BILECO, MASELCO, TISELCO, TIELCO, NORSAMELCO, and SAMELCO I.

Transmission lines in three Samar provinces, Negros Oriental, and Antique have been damaged.

NGCP stated that line personnel will commence repair works once weather conditions and flooded areas permit.

As of Friday afternoon, five major transmission lines remain unavailable, including the Calbayog-Allen 69kV, Calbayog-Bliss 69kV, and Paranas-Quinapondan 69kV lines, as well as the Nabas-Siaton 69kV and Nabas-Sapian 69kV lines.