Bad weather forces cancellation of several Cebu flights, ship sailings

Source: Project Noah | 9:01 am, Feb 19, 2013

CEBU CITY, Philippines—Several flights and sea crossings by inter-island ferries were cancelled Tuesday because of bad weather and rough seas caused by tropical depression “Crising.”

Cebu Coast Guard commander Weniel Azcuna said he temporarily stopped the sailing of vessels at the Hagnaya port in San Remegio that were bound for Sta Fe in Bantayan Island and vice versa because of the strong waves.

The Coast Guard also suspended  trips from Tangil port in Dumanjug town  to Negros Occidental.

Azcuna said the decision was based on the assessment of the Coast Guard detachment commanders at different ports.

The Philippine Coast Guard has adopted the practice of local sea assessment every three hours as the basis for any decision to suspend sea voyages even if an area is not covered by storm warnings.

Azcuna said waves in waters around Cebu ranged from three to four meters high, rendering the waters rough.

Initial reports showed around 50 passengers were stranded in the Tangil port, Azcuna said, adding he was awaiting reports the ports of Hagnaya and Sta Fe ports.

Trips from Cebu City to ports in Bohol, Leyte and other areas remained normal.

Meanwhile, two flights were canceled at the Mactan Cebu International Airport while two other flights from Manila to Mindanao were diverted to Mactan

Mary Ann Dimabayao, public affairs manager of the MCIA, said Cebu Pacific flights 5J 867 from Cebu to Dumaguete City and 5J 205 from Cebu to Cagayan de Oro City were canceled.

Air Philippines flight 2P 939 from Manila to Ozamis City was diverted to Mactan.

Cebu Pacific flight 5J 381 from Manila to Cagayan was also diverted to Mactan airport due to bad weather.

Cebu has been experiencing heavy rain since Monday night.