2,000 stranded in Bicol ports as ‘Karen’ creeps up north

LEGAZPI CITY – At least 2,080 passengers, including 325 trucks, buses and cars, 26 ships and 14 motorized bancas were still stranded in major ports in Bicol Saturday, reports reaching the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Bicol said.

Bernardo Rafael Alejandro OCD regional director, quoting a Philippine Coast Guard report released at 6 a.m. Saturday, said majority or 1,400 of the stranded passengers were at the ports of Matnog, Pilar and Bulan in Sorsogon while the rest were in the ports of Pio Duran in Albay, San Andres and Virac in Catanduanes and Masbate City in Masbate.

Catanduanes is reportedly experiencing a province-wide power outage while some areas in Albay experience power interruptions.

Electricity was normal in the provinces of Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Albay Sorsogon and Masbate.

Communication lines were normal in Bicol provinces except in Catanduanes where all telco signals were down.

Landslides hit the road network in Barangay (village) Lubas in San Andres and Barangay (village) Sicmil in Gigmoto town, all in Catanduanes.

Classes in all levels were suspended since Friday.

Flights were cancelled at airports in Catanduanes and Legazpi City. CDG

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