Sea travel suspended in ‘Usman’-affected areas – Coast Guard

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) suspended on Thursday interisland trips in areas affected by Tropical Depression “Usman” that has spawned rough sea conditions.

In an advisory, the PCG stopped sea travel for all types of vessels or watercraft plying routes to and from the following areas:

Luzon

Sorsogon

Masbate, including Ticao Island

Visayas

Northern Samar

Samar

Biliran

Leyte

Southern Leyte

Northern Cebu, including the Camotes Islands

Mindanao

Dinagat Island

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The PCG also suspended all sea travel to and from Surigao City in Surigao del Norte.

The agency said trips would resume once weather and sea conditions improve.

Meanwhile, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chair Martin Delgra issued a directive to bus operators to suspend operations with Roll-on, Roll-off (RoRo) trips crossing areas placed under Signal No. 1.

As of 11 a.m., Thursday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), has placed 17 areas under Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 1.

Luzon

• Romblon
• Catanduanes
• Camarines Sur
• Albay
• Sorsogon
• and Masbate, including Ticao and Burias Islands

Visayas

• Eastern Samar
• Northern Samar
• Samar
• Biliran
• Leyte
• Southern Leyte
• Northern Cebu, including the Camotes Islands
• Aklan
• Capiz
• Northern Iloilo and Northern Negros Occidental

Mindanao

• Dinagat Island

Pagasa said Usman was expected to make landfall over Eastern Samar on Friday, however, the weather bureau said it could intensify into a tropical storm prior to making landfall.

At 4 a.m., Usman was spotted 435 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar.

It was packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 65 kph. It was moving west-northwest at 20 kph. /cbb