Coast Guard: Over 4,700 passengers stranded at various ports as ‘Odette’ whips Vis-Min

MANILA, Philippines — Over 4,700 individuals are stranded at different ports across the country amid the onslaught of Typhoon Odette, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Friday.

The PCG reported that 1,998 were stranded in Bicol region ports, 1,357 in Western Visayas, 1,010 in Eastern Visayas, 339 in Central Visayas, and 37 in northeastern Mindanao.

In the Bicol region, five vessels were still stranded as of 7:00 a.m., while 37 vessels are taking shelter; and two motorbancas and 667 rolling cargoes are also stranded.

In Western Visayas which Odette crossed on Friday, 33 vessels and 549 rolling cargoes are stranded; four vessels and 554 rolling cargoes are stranded in Eastern Visayas; 39 vessels and 336 rolling cargoes in Central Visayas; and two vessels and four rolling cargoes in northeastern Mindanao.

As of Friday morning, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that Odette still packs maximum sustained winds of 155 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of 235 kph while  moving west at 25 kph.