21,000 travellers stranded in various ports on Christmas Eve

MANILA, Philippines — About 21,000 passengers were stranded in various ports across the country due to the inclement weather brought about by Severe Tropical Storm Ursula.

Data obtained from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) as of 8 a.m. on Tuesday show that a total of 21,010 passengers were stranded in ports in Bicol, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Southern Tagalog, Northern Mindanao, Western Visayas, and Southern Visayas.

Graphics provided by the PCG show the breakdown of stranded passengers in various ports nationwide:

Aside from passengers, the operations of 2,184 rolling cargoes, 36 motorbancas, and 170 vessels are also temporarily suspended, while 74 vessels and 5 motorbancas are taking shelter due to the bad weather condition.

“All PCG units ensure the strict implementation of the guidelines on the movement of vessels during heavy weather to ensure the safety of lives and properties at all costs,” the PCG said in a statement.

Ursula is expected to make landfall over Eastern Samar on Tuesday, the state weather bureau said.

In its latest severe weather bulletin, Pagasa said Ursula was last spotted 185 kilometers east of Guiuian, Eastern Samar, packing maximum sustained winds of 100 km per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 135 kph.

It was moving west at 20 kph.

Pagasa said Ursula may intensify into a typhoon before it makes landfall and Tropical Warning Signal No. 3 may be raised over some areas of Eastern Visayas on Tuesday afternoon.

“Suspension of maritime activities may be experienced in areas where TCWS is in effect,” it said in its severe weather bulletin.

Rough sea conditions are also expected starting Tuesday over the eastern seaboards of the country. In the afternoon or evening, rough sea waters may be experienced over the inland waters of Southern Luzon and Visayas.

The same condition is also expected to prevail over the western seaboards of Southern Luzon on Wednesday afternoon, Pagasa said.

The weather bureau warned that sea travel is risky in those areas.

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