Storm ‘Marce’ strands more than 2,500 in Bicol ports
LEGAZPI CITY—More than 2,500 passengers were stranded in ports in the Bicol region after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) suspended sea travel as Tropical Storm “Marce” crossed the region and provinces in the Visayas.
Ensign Lear Kenneth Ampalayo, assistant operations officer of PCG Bicol, said as of 8 a.m., 2,060 passengers were stranded in Sorsogon province, 401 in Albay province and 52 in Masbate province.
At least 224 vessels of different sizes were not allowed to sail until sea conditions improved, he said.
Bernardo Alejandro, Office of Civil Defense director in Bicol, said all local disaster risk reduction and management offices and other disaster response agencies were placed on alert while the storm moves toward Southern Tagalog and Visayas provinces. CDG/rga
