‘Ruby’ disrupts power in 2 Samar provinces

MANILA, Philippines—Strong winds and heavy rains brought by the approaching Typhoon Ruby disrupted the power supply in Northern and Eastern Samar starting late Saturday morning, according to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines.
.
Power supply to the Northern Samar Electric Cooperative Inc. (Norsamelco) was cut off due to a trip in the Palanas-Cara-Catarman-Bobolosan transmission line. It was partially restored at 12:31 p.m., according to an NGCP advisory.

The 69-kV Catarman-Allen section supplying parts of Norsamelco remained isolated as of 2:30 p.m.

Power supply to Eastern Samar Electric Cooperative (Esamelco), which distributes electricity to the province, has not been restored.

Operations of NGCP patrol teams along the 69-kV Paranas-Taft-Borongan-McArthur line and the Catarman-Allen line have been suspended due to extreme weather conditions.

“We have to pull them out in consideration of the safety of our personnel and equipment,” Ma. Rosette Martinez, NGCP Visayas corporate communications officer, told the INQUIRER in a phone interview.