COMPOSTELA, Philippines - Several cities and municipalities in eastern Mindanao are in total darkness hours after typhoon "Pablo" made landfall on Tuesday, December 4.

Fallen trees and electric posts have severely damaged the transmission and distribution of electricity in the area, already prone to power failures even in good weather.

The power outage in Davao del Norte affected Tagum City, Nabunturan, Mawab, Montevista and Compostela.

Compostela was the scene of a tragedy when three people, among them a young mother and her baby, died when a landslide provoked by Pablo buried their house.

Using candles and kerosene lamps, affected families are presently trying to recover their remaining belongings and to rebuild their destroyed homes.

Resumption of normal power services is still not certain as of posting time. - Rappler.com