Stranded passengers increase to over 1,100 in Sorsogon

LEGAZPI CITY––Over 1,1000 passengers were marooned Wednesday morning with 700 trucks, cars, and trailers at the Maharlika Highway in Matnog and Pilar towns in Sorsogon province, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Bicol said.

As of 9 a.m., 397 trucks, 71 cars, 12 trailers, and a passenger bus occupied the long queue of vehicles parked at the highway leading to the Matnog Port, said Gremil Alexis Naz, OCD Bicol spokesperson.

In Pilar town, 177 trucks and 12 cars occupied the long queue of parked vehicles at the highway of Barangay Putiao.

Also stranded were 1,125 passengers after police authorities prevented the rolling cargoes from entering the ports to avoid congestion.

The report said despite the Land Transportation Office Bicol suspending land travels on Monday due to Severe Tropical Storm “Odette,” some of the trucks and vehicles managed to pass through road checkpoints en route to their destinations.

The vehicles and passengers stranded in Sorsogon ports were going to Visayas or Masbate province.

The state weather bureau said that “Odette” (international name: Rai) was located 590 km East of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur.

Pagasa’s 5 a.m. bulletin says it has a wind speed of up to 120 km per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 150 kph as it moved Westward at 20 kph.

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