Blast rocks NGCP tower in Patani, Marawi City Army, PNP secure site

MANILA(PNA) – An explosion has isolated the Agus 1 and Agus 2 hydro-power plants from the Mindanao power grid, according to grid-operator National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).Police authorities in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and Lanao del Sur police office have already sent police personnel to assist the technical personnel of NGCP.”At around 9:20 p.m., October 29, one of NGCP’s (transmission) towers in Patani, Marawi City was bombed. The Agus 1 and Agus 2 plants are isolated from the grid, causing power loss in several areas in the Mindanao grid,” the transmission firm said in an advisory Friday.NGCP, however, stressed it cannot identify the specific areas affected because the deficiency is spread out across the Mindanao grid.”The two units have a combined capacity of 260 megawatts (MW), 80-MWs from Agus 1 and 180-MW from Agus 2.The grid operator added it will begin restoration activities as soon as the area is secured.The Philippine Army, through the 1st Infantry Division, were reported to arrive in the area and expected to secure it soon. Soldiers are already in the bombed out site.(PNA)