Power outages hit central Philippines

Large parts of the central Philippines remained without power days after a 6.5-magnitude quake shook the region and killed two people, authorities said yesterday. Power plant facilities in the central island of Leyte, which provide electricity for the island and neighboring regions, sustained damage when the quake struck on Thursday, an energy department statement said. The geothermal plants, near the quake’s epicenter, were damaged by both the tremors and resulting landslides, the department said. Leyte, home to some 1.75 million people, bore the brunt of the quake, recording two deaths and 72 injuries.

Much of Leyte and the surrounding islands of Samar and Bohol were without power yesterday as repairs were still being conducted, energy undersecretary Wimpy Fuentabella said.