Over 5,000 passengers stranded in ports across PH due to storm Kristine

Stranded passengers due to Tropical Storm Kristine. Photo from Philippine Ports Authority/FACEBOOK

MANILA, Philippines — Over 5,000 passengers, truck drivers and cargo helpers were stranded in various ports nationwide on Wednesday morning due to tropical storm Kristine (international name: Trami).

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said it monitored affected individuals in Southern Tagalog, Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Western Visayas and North Eastern Mindanao from 12 midnight until 4 a.m.

READ: 26 areas placed under storm signal number 2 as Kristine gets nearer

“The PCG monitored 96 ports affected with 5,084 passengers, truck drivers or cargo helpers, 1,144 rolling cargoes, 68 vessels and 13 motor bancas stranded, while 272 vessels and 210 motor bancas (are) taking shelter due to Tropical Storm Krisitine,” the agency disclosed.

Broken down, 738 individuals are stranded in Southern Tagalog, 2,652 in Bicol, 971 in Eastern Visayas, 227 in Central Visayas, 51 in Western Visayas and 445 in North Eastern Mindanao.

Earlier Wednesday, the state weather service placed 26 areas nationwide under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 2 as Kristine gets closer to the Philippine landmass.

It was last spotted some 180 kilometers north northeast of Virac, Catanduanes, packing maximum sustained winds of 85 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, with gusts of up to 105 kph.