Stranded passengers due to ‘Agaton’ down to 1,198 – PCG

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – The number of passengers stranded in seaports due to tropical depression “Agaton” went down to 1,198 on Monday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said.

“A total of 1,198 passengers are stranded as of 20 January 2014 (past midnight),” the PCG said over social media.

The number was a significant decline from 10,708 passengers on Saturday;  7,325 on Sunday morning; and 5,506 on Sunday noontime.

Of the 1,198 stranded passengers, 762 are in Cebu, 227 in Bulan in Sorsogon, 180 in Pasacao in Camarines Sur, and 29 in Masbate.

The PCG said 42 sea vessels, 34 motor banca were prohibited from sailing while 607 “rolling cargoes” or vehicles were not allowed to board cargo ships.

As of 5 a.m. on Monday, “Agaton” was moving east southeast, packing maximum sustained winds of 55 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center.

It was expected to bring moderate to occasionally heavy rains and thunderstorms over Northern Mindanao and the rest of the Caraga region.

“Sea travel is risky over the seaboards of Luzon, Visayas and Caraga region,” the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said in its latest report.

Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, and Compostela Valley remained under Signal no. 1.

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