Thousands stranded in Visayan ports due to ‘Ofel’

Satellite image as of October 25, 2012, 9:57 AM. Screengrab from https://noah.dost.gov.ph/

MANILA, Philippines—Thousands of passengers were stranded in different ports in the Visayas after being placed under Signal No. 2 due to tropical storm “Ofel” which made landfall in the southwestern part of Masbate and Sibuyan Island Thursday, police said.

Chief Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr., Region 6 police director, said that as of 9 a.m., about 100 passengers and over 100 cargo trucks were stranded at Port Nalu-Oyan in Barangay (village) Sapao in Dumagas, Iloilo.

In Aklan, Cruz said 500 passengers bound for Boracay Island were, likewise, stranded at the province’s Jetty Port, while 100 more Mindoro-bound roro commuters were stuck in Caticlan.

In Bacolod City, 1000 passengers were reported marooned in the city’s Bredco Port, he said.

Cruz said no information on damages or casualties have reached their office as of posting time.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration advised fishing boats and other small seacraft not to venture out into the seaboards of Luzon and Visayas due to the combined effect of “Ofel” and the northeast monsoon.