LEGAZPI CITY — Fishermen who intend to go fishing off the waters of Catanduanes and Camarines provinces, including the eastern seaboards of Albay and Sorsogon, were prohibited on Wednesday to sail following a gale warning bulletin by the local weather bureau here.
Claudio Yucot, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) regional director, said the prevailing strong gale force prompted authorities to enforce the “no sailing” policy where fishing boats and small seacrafts were advised not to venture at sea.
In a phone interview, Yucot said he has already advised various disaster councils about the no sailing policy as a preemptive disaster measure.
Affected by the strong gale forces are the seaboards of Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, the eastern coast of Albay and Sorsogon.
These coastal areas would experience rough to very rough with waves as high as 3.4 to 4.5 meters.
Flooding
The OCD report said flooding were reported on Tuesday in villages in the towns of Baao, Garchitorena, Balatan, Caramoan, Lagonoy and Iriga City all in Camarines Sur.
While in Camarines Norte incidence of flooding and landslide were reported in the town of Labo and Mercedes, 13 families or 59 persons were evacuated to two evacuation centers.
Missing fishermen
In Catanduanes, search and rescue operations are ongoing for two fishermen who went fishing off the waters of Bato town, the report said.
Bato DRRM identified the missing fishermen as Albert and Allan all surnamed Pantino, residents of Barangay Pananaogan in Bato, Catanduanes.
Of the seven bancas from Barangay Pananaogan that went fishing at around 11:20 p.m. Tuesday, one of the small boats reportedly capsized due to strong waves. Its passengers were rescued, the report added.
Another boat went missing and now the subject of search and rescue operation. (Mar Serrano and Connie Destura/PNA)
