Blackout

First typhoon of the season hits

*Twenty-two dead; more than 50 missing

* Power out across metro Manila and surrounding provinces

from ReutersAlertNet

MANILA, Philippines- Typhoon “Basyang” sent trees and billboards crashing down on power lines, plunging Metro Manila and surrounding provinces in darkness late Tuesday with full restoration of power expected only after three to four days.

The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) said the powerful winds from Basyang (international name Conson) damaged all the power transmission lines of the Luzon grid that led to a total shutdown at 12:42 a.m.

Wide areas of Metro Manila and nearby provinces were plunged into darkness as Basyang howled across the metropolis late Tuesday as the NGCP declared a systems outage. Power in many areas was still not restored as of last night.

by Carlo Velasco for PhilippinesStar

People pushing a stalled passenger jeepney along a street in Paranaque suburban Manila yesterday after Typhoon Conson hit the country's capital late on Wednesday.