More than 1.4 million households in Eastern Visayas have been left without electricity after Typhoon Tino battered the region, according to the latest report from the Philippine Daily Inquirer. The strong winds and heavy rainfall caused widespread power outages, uprooted trees, and damaged several transmission lines operated by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).
Widespread Impact Across the Region
Eastern Visayas — which includes the provinces of Leyte, Samar, Northern Samar, Biliran, Eastern Samar, and Southern Leyte — was among the hardest hit by Typhoon Tino as it made landfall late Monday night. Officials reported extensive infrastructure damage, particularly in low-lying and coastal areas where strong winds and flooding disrupted power distribution networks.
The NGCP confirmed that transmission lines linking Leyte to Samar and Biliran were severely affected, leading to cascading power failures across multiple municipalities. Power utilities are currently assessing the damage and working to restore electricity, but officials warned that full restoration could take several days due to the scale of the destruction.
Emergency Response Underway
Local governments across Eastern Visayas have activated emergency response teams to assist affected communities. Disaster response units are prioritizing the restoration of electricity in hospitals, evacuation centers, and key government facilities.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported that hundreds of families have been evacuated to temporary shelters as heavy rains continued to threaten landslides and flash floods in several mountainous areas. Meanwhile, weather authorities have downgraded Typhoon Tino to a tropical storm, but urged residents to remain cautious as strong winds and scattered rain showers persist.
Damage Assessment and Restoration Efforts
According to NGCP spokespersons, engineers and maintenance teams have been deployed to inspect damaged towers and transmission structures. Initial assessments show that several high-voltage towers collapsed, while others sustained partial damage due to strong winds exceeding 150 kilometers per hour.
Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla stated that government agencies are coordinating closely with private power distributors to expedite the restoration of power supply. Mobile generators have been dispatched to critical facilities in Tacloban City and Ormoc, two of the most affected urban centers.
Economic and Humanitarian Impact
The power outages have disrupted economic activity across the region, with many businesses and schools suspending operations. Fishermen and farmers have also been affected, as rough seas and continuous rains halted livelihoods. Early estimates suggest that agricultural damage in Samar and Leyte could amount to millions of pesos.
Humanitarian organizations, including the Philippine Red Cross, are mobilizing relief supplies such as food packs, bottled water, and hygiene kits for families displaced by the typhoon.
Looking Ahead
Meteorologists expect weather conditions in Eastern Visayas to gradually improve by midweek. However, authorities emphasized that recovery and power restoration efforts may extend well into next week due to the widespread network damage.
As the Philippines braces for more storms during the typhoon season, officials reiterated the importance of strengthening disaster preparedness and upgrading energy infrastructure to better withstand extreme weather events.
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