Over 9,000 passengers now stranded at Manila North Harbor

MANILA, Philippines — More than 9,280 passengers have been stranded at Manila’s North Harbor and eight other major ports in Luzon due to rough sea conditions caused by tropical depression “Quinta” (international code name: Wukong), as of Thursday morning, the Philippine Coast Guard said.

In a report, the PCG headquarters in Manila said on Thursday, at least 3,250 passengers were stranded in Manila, followed by 2,769 in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro; 2,115 in Batangas City; 629 in Lucena City; 252 in Albay; 138 in Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro; 65 in Camarines Sur; 58 in Caticlan, Aklan; and 10 in Virac, Catanduanes.

At least five interisland vessels carrying 464 rolling cargoes were also stranded in ports in Manila, Batangas, Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro, said an advisory issued by the PCG public affairs office.

On Wednesday, the PCG said nearly 5,750 passengers and 82 vessels were stranded in 12 ports nationwide because of the weather disturbance.

Meanwhile, Rear Admiral Rodolfo Isorena, PCG commandant, said all Coast Guard units in areas affected by the weather disturbance were still on “heightened alert.”

He also directed all PCG stations to “continuously and closely monitor the effects of the weather disturbance, as well as regulate the movement of vessels, including fishing boats.”

Early this week, Isorena ordered PCG units to coordinate with the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council in their areas for possible search-and-rescue operations in places that might be adversely affected by Quinta.