By Saul E. Pa-a
CALAMBA CITY, Laguna, (PNA) — A power transformer exploded around 12 noon here on Friday rendering the Catholic Cemetery I in the city’s Barangay Lecheria power-less and sending the cemetery goers scamper for safety due to sparks and ignitions from the burning unit and bursting electrical wirings.
Cemetery goers theorized the transformer exploded due to power overload and increasing usage of electricity and the noontime heat.
Barangay Lecheria is considered here as Calamba’s resting place for the dead and home to the city public cemetery, the Catholic Cemetery I, Rizal Cemetery and the Holy Family private cemetery.
The power utility Meralco service contractor restored power in the affected areas by mid-afternoon and assured no more interruptions by night.
The city chief of police, Supt. Marvin Joe Saro, said troops have been deployed to boost cops’ visibility in the public converging zones.
Supt. Saro said law enforcements agencies were assisted by the force multipliers, socio-civic volunteers and city hall and Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) personnel.
In an interview with media here, the Calamba City police chief said he expected the surge of “All Saints’ Day” goers Friday afternoon and could even peak in the evening.
Police and POSO personnel have declared the Chipeco Avenue fronting the Lecheria contiguous cemeteries as closed to traffic and vehicles and advised pedestrians to take a walk from the drop-off points away from the converging zones to avoid congestion.
He also reported no violations by the cemetery visitors for the first time here on prohibited items and articles such as liquor, alcoholic drinks, bladed weapons, guns, flammable liquid and materials and even the gambling cards.
There were no reports also of “dead spot” goers bringing radio sets, TV, DVD players, karaoke and other instruments producing blasting sounds.
Police and army troops deployed in the area described the public flow as smooth-sailing and observed the cemetery visitors seemed aware on the prohibited items.
He, however cautioned the public to always be “security and safety conscious” and be vigilant against unscrupulous criminal elements, and those tending to sow civil disturbance.
Saro also said public assistance desks were set up at accessible locations in the cemetery and ambulance vehicles were on standby for emergencies.
Carlito Alcaraz, Kabalikat Civicom chapter president here, said their group assists the law enforcers in monitoring the situation and also deployed standby rescue teams and emergency responders.
“Undas 2013” teams here also reported some cemetery goers who experienced dizziness, exhaustion and nausea and soaring blood pressure due to the heat.