Queenie downs power in Cebu; fisherman missing
CEBU CITY — A fisherman in a southern Cebu town was reported missing while a portion of Cebu City was without power due to winds spawned by tropical depression “Queenie.”
The family of Feliciano Looc of Barangay Alo in Oslob town sought the help of the police after he failed to come home since Wednesday when he went out to the sea to fish.
Families from Barangay Nueva Caseres also from Oslob called the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) to ask for help as flood water continued to rise in their area.
Southern Cebu, including Cebu City, was placed under Signal No. 1 along with Bohol, Negros Oriental, southern Negros Occidental and Antique.
It had been raining in Cebu since 3 a.m. on Thursday, prompting the suspension of classes in private and public schools in the cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, Talisay and Mandaue as well as in Cebu province.
Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak, head of the city’s command center, said brownout was reported in Barangays Bulacao, Tisa, Lahug, Apas and Lorega, as well as Ma. Luisa Subdivision. Strong wind spawned by “Queenie” busted the transformer that supplied power to these areas, while a tree was uprooted in Lorega and hit an electric post.
Tumulak said strong winds also disrupted their radio communication with mountain barangays.
Cebu City government also fielded city-owned buses starting 7 a.m. to ferry stranded passengers.
“We have noticed reduction in the number of PUJs (pubic utility jeepneys) and people were stranded on the streets so we decided to field our buses,” he said.
Strong winds also toppled a tree and hit the rear of the taxi passing along the Banilad access road of the Cebu IT Park in Barangay Lahug.
Reports reaching the OCD in Central Visayas said a tree fell and hit two vehicles in front of the City Hall of Tagbilaran, Bohol.
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