As of April 20, we have restored electricity in 153 villages, with a total of 33,200 customers.Kupang, E Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA) - State-owned electricity company PT PLN (Persero) restored electricity supply to 153 villages in Sumba Island, East Nusa Tenggara, ravaged by the tropical cyclone Seroja early in April.
"As of April 20, we have restored electricity in 153 villages, with a total of 33,200 customers," PLN's manager for customer service unit (UP3) Sumba, Made Harry, stated in Kupang on Wednesday.
The company recorded that the deadly cyclone on April 5 had damaged 321 electrical substations in Sumba Island, thereby resulting in power supply to PLN's 35,738 customers in 164 villages being cut.
Harry confirmed that the company had established a post-Seroja recovery team to restore electricity supply in the region.
"Electricity supply has been restored gradually. A day after the cyclone, supply to 74 villages has been restored, and until now, we have recovered (supply) to 153 villages," he revealed.
Power supply across Sumba Island is expected to return to normal in April, according to Harry.
At least 165 people died, while thousands of others were compelled to flee their homes after floods and landslides, triggered by the tropical cyclone Seroja, hit eight districts in East Nusa Tenggara.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) noted that the tropical cyclone had damaged homes and infrastructure in Kupang, East Flores, Malaka, Lembata, Ngada, West Sumba, East Sumba, Rote Ndao, and Alor.
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Translator: Aloysius Lewokeda, Sri Haryati
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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