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
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