File photo showing stranded passengers due to Tropical Storm Kristine. (Picture from Philippine Ports Authority / FACEBOOK)
MANILA, Philippines — More than 4,600 individuals were stranded in various ports nationwide due to Super Typhoon Pepito (international name: Man-yi), according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
The agency said it logged 4,642 stranded persons in 64 ports nationwide from midnight until 4 a.m. on Sunday.
READ: Super Typhoon Pepito to bring rains throughout PH on Sunday (Nov. 17)
“The PCG monitored 64 ports affected with 4,642 passengers, truck drivers and cargo helpers, 1,897 rolling cargoes, 31 vessels and 22 motorbancas were stranded, while 256 vessels and 208 motorbancas are taking shelter due to [Super] Typhoon Pepito,” it reported in a short statement.
Broken down, 2,589 stranded people were logged in Bicol port, 348 in Southern Tagalog, 94 in Southern Tagalog, 208 in Central Visayas and 1,403 in Eastern Visayas.
As of 4 a.m., Pepito was last seen 85 kilometers northeast of Daet, Camarines Norte, moving over the sea east of the Bicol region.
It was packing maximum sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center with gustiness of up to 255 kph.
Pepito was moving west-northwestward at 15 kph.
The state weather bureau’s latest bulletin showed that Pepito is expected to bring stormy weather in Northern Samar, Bicol Region, Calabarzon, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Cordillera Administrative Region, Marinduque, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino and Pangasinan.
It is also forecast to bring rain with gusty winds over Samar, Eastern Samar, Biliran, Ilocos Norte, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro and Cagayan.
Tropical Cyclone Warning System Signals (Illustration from ED LUSTAN)