PSea travel risks due to Super Typhoon Pepito (international name: Man-yi) are keeping more than 3,000 travelers at various ports of Southern Luzon and Eastern Visayas, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). (Photo from PCG/Facebook)
MANILA, Philippines — Sea travel risks due to Super Typhoon Pepito (international name: Man-yi) stranded more than 3,000 travelers at various ports of Southern Luzon and Eastern Visayas, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
As of 8 a.m. on Saturday, before Pepito’s landfall, the PCG recorded 3,217 passengers, drivers, and helpers already held at Southern Luzon and Eastern Visayas ports since sea travel was suspended due to Pepito’s strong winds that are seen to result in rough to very rough open waters.
The majority of the count was from 12 ports in the Bicol Region, where 1,957 individuals, 23 rolling cargoes, and two vessels were stranded, the PCG noted, adding that 78 more vessels and two motorbancas also took shelter at the Bicol ports.
READ: LIVE UPDATES: Typhoon Pepito
In Eastern Visayas, the PCG said it logged 1,015 individuals and 365 rolling cargoes stranded at three ports while 11 vessels sought shelter.
At 18 ports in Southern Luzon, 245 individuals and 125 rolling cargoes were not allowed to travel while 109 vessels and 154 motorbancas were permitted to take shelter.
Pepito intensified from typhoon to super typhoon at 8 a.m. on Saturday, November 16, packing maximum sustained winds of up to 185 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 230 kph.
READ: Super Typhoon Pepito prompts Signal No. 4 in parts of Bicol
Super Typhoon Pepito was last spotted 185 kilometers (km) east of Catarman, Northern Samar, or 250 km east of Juban, Sorsogon. It was heading west-northwest at 25 kph.
Pepito is forecast to make landfall in the vicinity of Catanduanes either Saturday evening or Sunday early morning November 17.
Pepito’s wind signals covered areas from Luzon to Mindanao with Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 4 declared over parts of the Bicol Region, based on the 11 a.m. bulletin of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).
Pagasa earlier said it may hoist up to TCWS No. 5 for Pepito
Pagasa said Pepito will pass through the Bicol Region, Calabarzon, Central Luzon, Cordillera Administrative Region, and Ilocos Region before emerging at the West Philippine Sea. Pepito is anticipated to leave Philippine area of responsibility by Monday, November 18.