500 stranded in Western Visayas ports due to ‘Queenie’

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — At least 500 passengers have been stranded in ports in Western Visayas as of Thursday after the Coast Guard suspended travel of sea craft due to tropical depression “Queenie.”

Commodore Athelo Ybañez, Coast Guard Western Visayas commander, said trips of ferry boats traveling to and from the cities of Iloilo and Bacolod were suspended as well as ships bound for Manila and other destinations.

Trips of ferryboats plying between Iloilo and Guimaras have been regulated with reduced number of passengers and travel limited only until sunset among other conditions.

The Coast Guard station in Iloilo reported that 519 passengers have been stranded in ports in the province including 296 in Iloilo City. At least 27 ships and boats have also been stranded in ports in the province, the report of Lt. Cmdr. Dominador Senador III, Coast Guard Iloilo station commander, stated.

Iloilo, Antique, Guimaras and southern Negros Occidental were among the areas placed under Storm Signal No.1.

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