‘Agaton’ strands over 500 passengers in Sorsogon port
LEGAZPI CITY — At least 503 passengers were stranded on Sunday at the Matnog port in Sorsogon as Tropical Storm Agaton brought rain and strong winds to the Bicol region.
Gremil Alexis Naz, spokesperson of the Office of Civil Defense Bicol, said in a report that 503 persons, 473 rolling cargoes, and a sea vessel were stranded after the Philippine Coast Guard cancelled sea trips to Samar provinces.
In its 11 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Agaton maintained strength as it currently carries maximum sustained winds of 75 km per hour (kph) and gusts of up to 105 kph, while moving westward at 35 kph.
Agaton made landfall on Calicoan Island, Guivan, Eastern Samar at 7:30 a.m.
Pagasa said at 10 a.m, the eye of the tropical storm was located over the coastal waters of Guiuan, Eastern Samar and slowly moving in a westward direction.
Tropical cyclone wind signal (TCWS) number 2 remains hoisted in the southern portion of Eastern Samar (Guiuan, Mercedes, Salcedo, Quinapondan, Giporlos, Balangiga, Lawaan, General Macarthur, Hernani, Llorente, Balangkayan, Maydolong, Borongan City), the southern portion of Samar (Marabut, Basey, Calbiga, Pinabacdao, Villareal, Santa Rita), and the northeastern portion of Leyte (Babatngon, Tacloban City, Palo, Tanauan, Tolosa).
While signal no. 1 in the rest of Eastern Samar, the rest of Samar, Northern Samar, Biliran, the rest of Leyte, Southern Leyte, and the northeastern portion of Cebu (Daanbantayan, Medellin, Bogo City, Tabogon, Borbon, San Remigio) including Camotes Islands.
