1,008 passengers still stranded in Northern Samar ports

Northern Samar (outlined in red) (Image from Google Maps)

Updated @ 7:50 p.m., Sept. 15, 2018

TACLOBAN CITY — More than a thousand passengers remained stranded on Saturday in Northern Samar as authorities barred sea travel due to Typhoon “Ompong” (internationally known as “Mangkhut.”)

In ports in Northern Samar, 1,008 passengers bound for Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon could not leave, according to Rei Josiah Echano, provincial disaster risk reduction management officer.

Of the number, 299 were stranded in Balwhartico port and 520 in Jubasan port, both in Allen town.

At the port in San Isidro town, 189 passengers were still stranded.

Asked when vessels would be allowed to sail, Echano said: “It depends on the calibration of the Philippine Coast Guard. But as of this moment, there is no order to lift suspension because the waters are still very rough and there is still a gale warning.”

In Bohol, the municipal government of Candijay town in Bohol on Friday night ordered the preemptive evacuation of all residents in Sitio Tabunok in Barangay Panadtaran, a landslide prone village, because of Ompong.

Jeryl Lacang-Fuentes, local disaster risk reduction and management officer, said the move was part of the precautionary measures to prevent casualties.

At least 10 households, composed of 27 individuals, were evacuated at Panadtaran Elementary School.

The youngest evacuees were babies a month old and five month old.

Relief goods were given to the families from the local government unit of Candijay.

“Generally the weather is okay but we have experienced scattered rainshower and gusty winds,” Fuentes said.

These families had to take shelter for the night for their safety, she added.

Classes were suspended in Cadapdapan Elementary School Friday afternoon.

Cadapdapan, a landslide-prone area, is an upland village about 8 km from the town proper. /lb /atm