People from Dumaguete and Negros Oriental heaved a sigh of relief after typhoon “Pablo” came and went with apparently minimal damage.

The typhoon was estimated at 100 kilometers west of Dumaguete at 8 p.m. That placed the typhoon behind Mt. Talinis and sheltered Dumaguete from further damage from the strong wind and rain that lasted for about two hours.

The winds and rain toppled several trees in Dumaguete City alone, rendering some roads impassable. Dumaguete's Rizal Boulevard was also flooded after the sea level rose.

The rising sea, coupled with some floodwaters, caused the evacuation of more than 250 pupils from Toledo City, who were billeted at the Amador Dagudag Elementary School for the duration of the Central Visayas Athletic Association meet.

The CVRAA had to be suspended for two days to allow “Pablo” to pass.

Dumaguete and many parts of Negros Oriental are still in the dark. The Negros Oriental 2 Electric Cooperative said they will not restore power until after they were sure that doing so would not endanger lives and property damaged by the typhoon.

Authorities are still keeping an eye over the Banica and Okoy rivers, after reports from the town of Valencia indicated that the Banica river was overflowing its banks.

These two rivers were responsible for most of the damage by tropical storm “Sendong”, that happened nearly one year ago.

Reports of the typhoon damage are now starting to come in through volunteer radio groups like the Negros Oriental Radio Amateurs of District 7 Inc.

Over in Siquijor, a search and rescue operation has been launched for a passenger vessel with six crewmen on board.

The boat, the Delta 1, was docked at the Siquijor port but had to seek shelter after waves caused it to keep slamming into the pier.

A report from the Philippine Information agency said that the ship had sunk but there has been no confirmation so far.

It has been difficult to confirm the report because the coast guard would not allow any sea craft to sail as Siquijor and Dumaguete were still under storm signal number 3.*AP

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