1 dead, major roads impassable as Typhoon Pablo pummels Central Visayas

Published December 5, 2012 8:22am

(Updated 7:49 p.m.) One woman was killed and some major roads were rendered impassable after Typhoon Pablo pummeled parts of Central Visayas over the past two days, radio and official reports said Wednesday. Radio dzBB's Cebu affiliate Jasmine Baylosis identified the fatality as Arlene Pila, who was killed after a coconut tree fell on her at 2 p.m. in Granada village in Boljoon town in Cebu.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Information Agency reported that in Dumaguete City, huge boulders and fallen trees blocked major roads, causing transportation problems. "Clearing work started early this morning," it said.

Silliman University in Dumaguete announced the suspension of classes in all levels and office work on Wednesday, the PIA said, adding that school officials would assess the condition of the leafy campus first before resuming operations.

Power outages were reported to be widespread in Negros Oriental, and there was no immediate timetable from electric cooperatives on when power will be restored, the PIA said. The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of Negros Oriental "is now moving to the next phase, post-disaster activities," the state-run information bureau said.

Typhoon Pablo pummeled parts of Mindanao and Visayas on Tuesday, and made landfall in Palawan Wednesday morning. Meanwhile, some 800 people or 200 families are currently staying at the New Guinsaogon relocation site, the largest in Southern Leyte, and all of them are in need of food, water and medication, according to a News To Go report on Wednesday. One person was hurt after being hit by a church's iron gate, according to the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. In Naga City, Cebu, over 90 families are seeking shelter in various schools and churches, while some 500 people are staying at the city gymnasium. Seventeen homes were destroyed, in the city, a separate News To Go report said. The report also said that disaster officials recorded three fatalities, four injured and eight missing in the city as of Wednesday morning. Winston Gonzales, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) of Palawan, told GMA News Online that as of 3:00 p.m, there were still no reported deaths in the province. However, there were 438 families or around 1,200 coastal residents who have been evacuated before the typhoon made landfall. Gonzales noted that the town of Araceli was the hardest hit town of Palawan, with an estimated 14,000 people affected. Tyhpoon Pablo's damage to Palawan is yet to be determined by the PDRRMO. — with a report from Andrei Medina/KG/YA/KBK, GMA News

Tags: pablo, weather