Sea travel halt due to Pepito holds 1,600 passengers at Sorsogon ports
The number of stranded passengers in the ports of Sorsogon rises to 1,672 after sea travel was halted due to the imminent threat of Typhoon Pepito (international name: Man-yi), according to Coast Guard District Bicol. The state weather bureau reported in its 8 a.m. forecast that Pepito was last located 235 kilometers east of Catarman, Northern Samar, with sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of 215 kph. Pepito was was heading northwest at 25 kph. INQUIRER FILES
SANTA MAGDALENA, Sorsogon — The number of stranded passengers in the ports of Sorsogon rose to 1,672 after sea travel was halted due to the imminent threat of Typhoon Pepito (international name: Man-yi), according to Coast Guard District Bicol.
As of 8 a.m. Saturday, November 16, at least 1,506 stranded passengers are temporarily sheltered in Matnog port, while the Pilar port houses 166.
The Coast Guard also reported a combined 583 rolling cargoes that were stuck in both ports, with an additional eight in Castilla port.
Achilles Galindes, acting port services division manager of the Philippine Ports Authority in Bicol, told the Inquirer on Friday, November 15, that the rise of stranded passengers was “anticipated.”
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Article continues after this advertisement“[The initial numbers (of stranded passengers)] may increase although we are aware that a land travel advisory was already issued to discourage travelers [from going] to ports as trips have already been canceled,” Galindes said.
The state weather bureau reported in its 8 a.m. forecast that Pepito was last located 235 kilometers east of Catarman, Northern Samar, with sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of 215 kph. Pepito was was heading northwest at 25 kph.
Moderate to heavy rainfall of up to 100 millimeters is expected in Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Norte, Samar, Leyte, Biliran and Masbate, while intense rainfall could be experienced in Catanduanes, Camarines, and Northern and Eastern Samar due to Pepito.
