Baguio City, and much of Western Luzon Island in the Philippines, is slowly picking itself from the ruins brought by the typhoon Cosme even as most areas of the city remain in darkness. Initial reports from the City Disaster Coordinating Council (CDCC) disclosed that volunteers have their hands full attending to emergency cases involving fallen trees and securing the safety of residents near landslides.

The City Camp Lagoon once again became flooded after more than a decade.

Hundreds of shoppers and city residents were also stranded at the SM City Baguio when typhoon winds lashed the crowded mall late Saturday afternoon. Even up to midnight, several people could be seen still waiting for rides home along Session Road and SM parking area.

The CDCC reported that waters at the lagoon reached waist level as rains finally ebbed to a drizzle at around 3 p.m. on Sunday.

CDCC volunteers are also busy clearing blocked city roads as well as assisting the Benguet Electric Cooperative (Beneco) restore power in barangays.

In most areas, electricity has been out for 21 hours.

“Downed wires are the main cause of brownouts because they are affecting Beneco feeder lines seven and eight,” said Beneco general manager Gerardo Versoza.

“It’s still too early for an assessment of damages right now. What is official as of the moment is that there are no casualties in Baguio,” said Baguio Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr.

The all-weather Palispis (formerly Marcos Highway was finally cleared of blockages at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Trips to the lowlands have resumed.

“I will ask the City Council to declare a state of calamity tomorrow,” Bautista said.

If Cosme spared Baguio of casualties, neighboring Benguet towns may not be so lucky.

At Camp 6 of Kennon Road and Tuba town, three houses were reportedly washed away by the Bued River. Occupants of two other houses in the area have been evacuated to higher ground.

A house in Bua, Tuding, Itogon was damaged with a casualty named Jun Fernandez. Four houses in La Trinidad were also affected.

Benguet Governor Nestor Fongwan could not estimate crop damages on Sunday.

The Halsema Highway, which leads to interior Cordillera, particularly at Camp 30, Atok municipality, is intermittently closed due to the landslide.

The Baguio-Aritao Road also suffered a landslide at Guiset, Ambuklao and Pito, Bokod.

Workmen are working double time to open it as soon as possible.

By Rimaliza Opiña, Jane Cadalig and Ernie N. Olson, Jr.

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