Tropical storm Basyang placed the province of Dinagat Islands and Siargao Islands into total darkness.

According to Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils (PDDRMCs) of Dinagat Islands and Surigao del Norte, typhoon Basyang toppled down several trees and some electric posts when the storm struck at 6 p.m. in Siargao Island and 7:45 p.m. at Dinagat Islands on Friday.

Dinagat Provincial Information Officer Jane Mayola said 1,220 families or nearly 3,000 people were evacuated from coastal areas before the storm hit the province after Governor Glenda Ecleo ordered forced evacuation especially in high risk areas.

She said engineers and technical men of Dinagat Islands and Siargao Islands Electric Cooperative Inc. were already instructed by General Manager Sergio Dagooc to redouble their effort in restoring the power in the four most affected towns of the province.

As requested by Surigao del Norte Governor Sol F. Matugas, the general manager of the electric cooperative also ordered the immediate restoration of all tourism areas in Siargao Islands where many foreign tourists are housed in several resorts, hotels and inn.

At least 500 families or nearly 1,800 people were also evacuated.

An estimated 2,000 families in the mainland municipalities of Surigao del Norte were also brought by the PDRRMC rescue teams to various evacuation centers before typhoon Basyang struck the province.

Our people are safe and no recorded casualty when Basyang left our province, said Matugas, as she instructed the provinces social welfare office to continue extending assistance to evacuees.

The Surigao City CDRRMC chaired by Mayor Ernesto T. Matugas also reported on Saturday that 778 families or 1,115 people are temporarily sheltered at various evacuation centers in the city before Basyang hit the city early Friday night.

On the other hand, the PDRRMC in Surigao del Sur chaired by Gov. Johnny T. Pimentel, also reported that nearly 3,000 families in the whole province, particularly in the cities of Tandag and Bislig and Hinatuan town were already evacuated to various evacuation centers before Basyang landed in Siargao.

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Total blackout in Dinagat, Siargao Islands due to ‘Basyang’