1,425 passengers stranded in ports as Bicol braces for ‘Carina’
LEGAZPI CITY—At least 1,425 passengers were stranded in major ports in Bicol after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) suspended the sailing of all types of sea vessels following the hoisting of public storm warning signal number one over four provinces here by the weather bureau on Friday.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) raised storm signal number one over Albay, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes and Sorsogon Friday morning as the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) went on alert after tropical depression “Carina” approached Bicol.
Affected by the “no sailing” policy were passengers and vessels stranded in the ports of Tabaco City in Albay; Bulan, Pilar and Matnog in Sorsogon; Pasacao in Camarines Sur; and Virac, San Andres and Codon in Catanduanes, according to Raffy Alejandro, RDRRMC chairperson and Office of Civil Defense (OCD) regional director.
Alejandro said 1,132 passengers were bound for the Samar and Leyte provinces while 235 passengers were bound either for the island provinces of Catanduanes and Masbate. The suspension order also put on hold 27 sea vessels and 178 land vehicles.
The OCD reactivated its Operation Center (OpCen) and was placed under “Blue” Alert Status. It means disaster agencies and assets were on standby.
Alejandro said he issued a disaster bulletin to the six Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to closely monitor the situation and immediately coordinate with them.
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