Storm strands 400 in Samar, Southern Leyte

Photo taken from google maps

TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines—More than 400 passengers were stranded in the ports of Allen in Northern Samar and San Ricardo  in Southern Leyte after vessels were barred from sailing  due to Tropical Storm Lawin.

The Philippine Coast Guard did not issue clearances to any vessel in Northern Samar and Southern Leyte to prevent sea accidents, said Ben Linde, information officer at the Region 8 office of the Office of the Civil Defense.

Affected were 248 passengers bound for Luzon who were stranded at the Allen ferry terminal. In San Ricardo, 198 passengers, who were bound for Mindanao on board on 23 light and heavy vehicles, could not leave Benit Port.

The Philippine Coast Guard also asked fishermen and owners of fishing boats not to go out to sea due to bad weather.

Northern Samar was placed under storm signal No. 1 along with Samar and Leyte while storm signal No. 2 was hoisted over Eastern Samar.

Although no warnings were issued in Southern Leyte, Linde said the Coast Guard decided to include the province in the grounding of vessels as a preventive measure.

“We don”t know yet at this point where the tropical storm will be heading. It’’s just a precaution,” said Linde.

OCD-8 urged local government units to be on alert for possible landslides or floods in light of the heavy rains generated by the storm.