8,000 stranded passengers in Matnog port evacuated to Sorsogon schools

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay—At least 8,791 stranded passengers in Matnog port spent their “Noche Buena” or Christmas eve dinner in different schools and holding areas in Sorsogon province.

Raden Dimaano, head of Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), said to lessen the queue of stranded passengers and vehicles in Matnog, they decided to move some of the rolling cargoes in nearby towns.

In Irosin, 48 buses were transferred from Matnog with 2,400 passengers while 15 buses with 682 passengers are now in Juban. In Casiguran, 11 buses with 578 passengers were moved while 40 buses with 2,015 passengers were transferred to Sorsogon City.

The Bicol region is bearing the brunt of Typhoon Nina (international name: Nock-Ten)

“These passengers were sheltered in different schools for them to be able to at least sleep well last night,” he said.

Some 30 buses with 2,544 passengers are still in Matnog port. At least 285 trucks and 156 light vehicles were also stranded in Matnog.

In Pilar port, 4 buses were stranded with 525 passengers. 47 passengers were also stranded in Bulan.

Dimaano said they have yet to order preemptive evacuation to families living in places at risk from flooding and storm surge.

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