Over 300 passengers stranded in Southern Tagalog, Bicol ports

MANILA, Philippines — Over 300 passengers were stranded in various ports in Luzon on Thursday morning amid heavy rain and flooding due to Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon or “habagat,”  the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said. 

Based on PCG’s advisory, 354 passengers, truck drivers, and cargo helpers were monitored in Southern Tagalog and Bicol region ports from 12 midnight until 4 a.m. 

“The PCG monitored 354 passengers, truck drivers, and cargo helpers, 12 vessels, five motorbancas, and 69 rolling cargoes stranded, while seven vessels and 13 motorbancas are taking shelter in Southern Tagalog and Bicol regions due to Carina,” the PCG reported.

Of the 354 passengers, 158  were stranded in Southern Tagalog ports  (San Jose, Tilik, San Andres, Romblon, Calatrava, Cajidiocan, and Real), while 196 were in Bicol ports (Pasacao, Aroroy, Masbate City, Mobo, San Jacinto, San Pascual, Cawayan, Bulan). 

According to the state weather service’s 4 a.m. cyclone update, Carina has weakened further and is about to exit the Philippine area of Responsibility (PAR). 

Carina was last monitored some 465 kilometers north of Itbayat, Batanes, or in the vicinity of Hsinchu County, Taiwan.

It was moving north at 20 kilometers per hour (kph) with maximum sustained winds of 150 kph and gusts of up to 250 kph. 

Although Carina is forecast to exit PAR  Thursday morning, the state weather bureau said flooding and landslides are still possible in Luzon since a red rainfall warning remains hoisted over Ilocos Sur, Benguet, La Union, and Pangasinan. 

Areas under red warning are forecast to experience over 30 millimeters of rain in the next two hours, with possible flooding in flood-prone areas.