Number of stranded passengers dwindles as ‘Usman’ becomes LPA
Tropical Depression ‘Usman’ lost steam and weakened into a low pressure area after making landfall over Borongan City in Eastern Samar on Saturday morning, Dec. 29, 2018. IMAGE: PAGASA / DOST
MANILA, Philippines — The number of stranded passengers due to the low pressure area (LPA) formerly known as Tropical Depression “Usman” dropped to 14,857, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported.
The PCG in its update said that as of Saturday noon, only 14,857 passengers remain stranded at various ports nationwide.
READ: ‘Usman’ strands 22,600 passengers in ports
Here are the numbers of stranded passengers as recorded by the PCG in various affected areas:
- National Capital Region-Central Luzon – 512
- Southern Tagalog – 2,598
- Western Visayas – 209
- Bicol – 8,490
- Eastern Visayas – 3,043
Aside from passengers, 936 rolling cargoes, 46 vessels, and 19 motorbancas were also stranded from different ports around the country.
Earlier, the PCG lifted the suspension on all sea travel after “Usman” weakened to a low pressure area Saturday morning.
READ: Coast Guard allows ships to sail after ‘Usman’ weakens
In its latest update, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that the LPA was last spotted 50 kilometers west northwest of Catbalogan City in Samar or 105 kilometers east southeast of Masbate City as of 8 a.m.
Pagasa earlier lifted all tropical warning signals.
READ: ‘Usman’ weakens into LPA after making landfall over Eastern Samar
Pagasa also said that the LPA will continue to bring moderate to heavy rains over Bicol Region, Aurora, Quezon, Mindoro Provinces, Marinduque, Romblon, and Northern Palawan, including Calamian and Cuyo Groups of Islands, in the next 24 hours.
Light to moderate with at times heavy rains, meanwhile, will prevail over Metro Manila, Visayas, Cagayan Valley, and the rest of Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), Central Luzon, and Palawan, the state weather bureau added. /jpv
