1,480 passengers stranded in Visayas, Mindanao

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines— About 1,480 passengers were stranded as Tropical Storm Ofel hit Visayas and Mindanao, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Wednesday.

Aside from the stranded commuters, 102 rolling cargoes, 14 vessels and 22 motorbancas were reported stranded in different ports of Visayas and Northern Mindanao as of Tuesday, the report said.

As of 9 p.m., 48 maritime vessels were suspended in the ports of Tagbilaran City and Dumaguete City.

All coast guard units were on heightened alert and continuously monitoring development and effects of the weather disturbance, the NDRRMC said.

The NDRRMC on Monday raised red alert status due to the storm.