Philippine Coast Guard. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — A total of 2,989 passengers, 35 vessels, 14 motorbancas, and 594 rolling cargoes are stranded at 51 ports nationwide due to Tropical Storm Kristine, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Tuesday afternoon.
PCG said that based on its 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. monitoring, 285 passengers were stranded in Southern Tagalog ports; 1,473 passengers in Northwestern Luzon ports; 1,079 passengers in Eastern Visayas ports; and 152 passengers in North Eastern Mindanao ports.
Meanwhile, 110 and 153 motorbancas are taking shelter from various ports nationwide.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said in its 11 a.m. weather bulletin that Kristine is getting closer to the landmass, and was last located 335 kilometers (kms) east of Virac, Catanduanes. It was last spotted at 390 kms of Virac on early Tuesday morning.
READ: OCD calls for ‘heightened preparedness’ vs Kristine
Catanduanes is now placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind (TCWS) Signal No.2 while Metro Manila and 42 other areas are under TCWS No. 1.
READ: Kristine gets nearer; Metro Manila, 42 other areas under Signal No.1
Pagasa also noted that gale warning is raised over the seaboard of Luzon, the southern seaboard of Southern Luzon, and the eastern seaboard of Visayas. The state weather bureau reminded that “[s]ea travel is risky for all types or tonnage of vessels.”
The Office of the Civil Defense said on Monday that Kristine may “affect 30 million individuals across multiple regions.”