By Aerol John Pateña/PNA
MANILA — More than 5,000 passengers were stranded in ports Tuesday morning across Bicol, the Visayas and Mindanao due to the inclement weather spawned by Tropical Depression Samuel.
In its latest advisory, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said a total of 5,656 passengers, 728 rolling cargoes, 159 vessels and 47 motorbancas were stranded in Bicol, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Southern Visayas and Northern Mindanao regions as of 10 a.m.
Based on the PCG’s guidelines, no vessel of any type or tonnage shall be allowed to sail except to take shelter, as the situation may warrant, whenever storm Signal No. 1 or higher, is hoisted within its point of origin, the intended route and port of destination.
All vessels already underway shall seek shelter when any storm signal is hoisted in its immediate vicinity, along its route, and point of destination.
“Samuel” is expected to make landfall over the Samar-Leyte-Dinagat area on Tuesday night according to the latest weather bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
Moderate to heavy rains, which may trigger flooding and landslides, are expected over the Visayas, Sorsogon, Masbate, Romblon, Dinagat Islands and Siargao islands.
